Rekindling the Fire - A Podcast for and with the Indigenous mental wellness workforce

What if self-care was never meant to be something we do alone? In this episode of Rekindling the Fire, host Rachel Robinson speaks with Stephanie Stephens, an Anishinaabe educator and helping professional from the Bear Clan, registered to Garden River First Nation. Drawing on 25 years of experience in social work, education, mental health, addictions and community healing, Stephanie challenges the Western idea that individuals—particularly those caring for others—should be solely responsible for maintaining their own wellness. Through the teaching of sweetgrass, Stephanie explains that “a blade of sweetgrass never grows alone.” Our ability to bring our best selves into the world depends upon the kindness, connection and support of those around us. She explores the role of spirit and medicine in sustaining helpers, the importance of making space for emotion and vulnerability, and why authentic human connection is essential to building safety and trust. The conversation also turns to the responsibility of organizations and their leaders. Stephanie discusses the need to make community care part of the working day through peer support, recovery time, laughter and meaningful opportunities to connect. As she puts it, “connection is the correction.” These practices are not distractions from the work—they help prevent isolation, vicarious trauma and burnout, allowing helpers to remain grounded and fully present for the people they support. How might our workplaces change if kindness and community care were treated as non-negotiable? And what becomes possible when helpers are regularly asked not simply, “How are you?” but “What do you need?” A thoughtful and deeply affirming conversation about moving beyond individual self-care and creating communities in which everyone is supported to live and work well. Credits Rekindling the Fire is produced for the First Peoples Wellness Circle by David McGuffin and Graham McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca Music by Nagamo Publishing. For more on the work of the First Peoples Wellness Circle, please visit FPWC.ca. Listener Care Notice This episode discusses trauma, sexual abuse, the Sixties Scoop, residential schools, suicide, vicarious trauma, and the emotional challenges experienced by those working in helping professions. Please take care while listening and access support if needed. Support Resources National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988

“We envision together. We envision with those who sometimes can’t even have that vision for themselves.” In this episode of Rekindling the Fire, host Rachel Robinson sits down with Dr. Rennie Linklater — a member of Rainy River First Nations, longtime Indigenous mental wellness leader, and author of Decolonizing Trauma Work: Indigenous Stories and Strategies — to explore vicarious trauma, healing-centred care, and the importance of supporting those who care for others. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in Indigenous healing agencies and First Nations communities, Rennie reflects on her own healing journey and the roles of ceremony, medicine, culture, and community in sustaining Indigenous helpers. She shares how vicarious trauma can appear in the lives of practitioners and why recognizing personal limits is an essential part of caring responsibly for ourselves and others. Together, Rachel and Rennie discuss why healing does not mean being able to tell a painful story without emotion, how organizations can move beyond placing the burden of self-care entirely on individuals, and why no one should feel obligated to share a traumatic experience for the education of others. Rennie also reflects on the Sixties Scoop, reconnecting with her family and culture, and helping people in survival mode imagine a different future. At the heart of the conversation is a powerful reminder: healing is an ongoing process, and sometimes we find our way forward because another person is willing to hold hope and possibility for us. Dr. Rennie Linklater is Senior Director of Shkaabe Makwa: Centre for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Wellness at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She has worked across the health and education sectors as a frontline worker, program evaluator, curriculum developer, educator, trainer, and researcher. She is an international speaker on trauma and healing and author. Fast Four Reflections Hope: Seeing Indigenous families and communities growing, learning, travelling, and experiencing the world together Home: Sitting beside the rapids at Manitou Rapids in Rainy River First Nations Meaning: Being a helper to her family, community, and the wider system Gift: Preserving and sharing her family’s history so future generations never forget who they are or how their ancestors lived Credits Rekindling the Fire is produced for the First Peoples Wellness Circle by David McGuffin and Graham McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca Music by Nagamo Publishing. For more on the work of the First Peoples Wellness Circle, please visit FPWC.ca. Listener Care Notice This episode discusses trauma, sexual abuse, the Sixties Scoop, residential schools, suicide, vicarious trauma, and the emotional challenges experienced by those working in helping professions. Please take care while listening and access support if needed. Support Resources National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988

“You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know who you are.” In this episode of Rekindling the Fire, host Rachel Robinson sits down with Jay Shawana — an Anishinaabe social worker from Wikwemikong First Nation, former competitive hockey player, and founder of Four Hills Athlete Development — to explore the importance of boundaries, identity, and balance in Indigenous wellness work. Drawing on his experiences in sport, youth development, leadership, and community-based services, Jay reflects on the challenges of supporting others while maintaining personal wellbeing. From navigating dual roles as both helper and community member to recognizing the early signs of burnout, he shares practical insights on how healthy boundaries allow us to show up authentically and sustainably for those we serve. Together, Rachel and Jay discuss the importance of knowing your values, protecting your energy, and creating workplace cultures that prioritize connection, trust, and wellness. At the heart of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: understanding who you are is the foundation for understanding where you're going. Jay Shawana is Anishinaabe from Wikwemikong First Nation and serves as Executive Director of NPAAMB Indigenous Youth Employment and Training. He is also the founder of Four Hills Athlete Development, a Brantford-based practice that supports athletes, families, and organizations through culturally grounded approaches to leadership, wellness, and personal development. Fast Four Reflections Hope: The resilience of Indigenous youth Home: Stepping onto the ice with skates and a hockey stick Meaning: The prospect of potential Gift: Showing that things don't have to be done the way they've always been done Credits Rekindling the Fire is produced for the First Peoples Wellness Circle by David McGuffin and Graham McGuffin. Music by Nagamo Publishing. For more on the work of the First Peoples Wellness Circle, please visit FPWC.ca. Listener Care Notice This episode discusses burnout, workplace stress, intergenerational impacts of colonial systems, and challenges faced by those working in helping professions. Please take care while listening and access support if needed. Support Resources National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988

“It’s not about feeding the addiction. It’s about helping people get connected to life.” In this episode of Rekindling the Fire, host Rachel Robinson sits down with Carol Hopkins — a member of the Lenape Nation at Moraviantown and CEO of the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation — to explore harm reduction through an Indigenous lens grounded in relationship, compassion, and connection. Drawing on decades of work in First Nations mental wellness, addictions treatment, and community healing, Carol reflects on how culture-based care, family involvement, and spirit-centered approaches can transform the way communities respond to substance use and the toxic drug crisis. From sacred fires and ceremony to practical community action, this conversation challenges stigma and reframes harm reduction as an act of care, dignity, and collective responsibility. Together, Rachel and Carol unpack the impacts of colonization, the importance of belonging and identity, and why healing begins not with shame, but with connection. In this Episode: Reframing harm reduction through Indigenous values and worldview Why connection and relationships are central to healing The role of family, ceremony, and community in wellness How colonization disrupted identity, belonging, and care systems Practical examples of community-led harm reduction initiatives Understanding addiction through compassion rather than shame The importance of culture, spirit, and identity in recovery Why communities need local, culturally grounded supports and services Dr. Carol Hopkins is the CEO of the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and a member of the Lenape Nation at Moraviantown, Ontario. She has dedicated more than 20 years to the field of First Nations addictions and mental health and is internationally recognized for her leadership in Indigenous mental wellness, harm reduction, and culture-based healing approaches. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2018. Fast Four Reflections Hope: Identity that can never be taken away Home: Community and the land Meaning: Language, culture, and identity Gift: Sharing knowledge to inspire healing and change Credits Rekindling the Fire is produced for the First Peoples Wellness Circle by David McGuffin and Graham McGuffin ( ExploreProductions.ca ) Music by Nagamo Publishing. For more on the work of the First Peoples Wellness Circle please visit fpwc.ca Listener Care Notice This episode discusses substance use, colonial impacts, intergenerational trauma, and the toxic drug crisis. Please take care while listening and access support if needed. Support Resources National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988

“Don’t ever feel that this is insurmountable—it isn’t. Let’s play the long game, because our ancestors played the long game.” — Barb Martin In this episode of Rekindling the Fire, host Rachel Robinson sits down with Barb Martin—a Mi’kmaq leader and lifelong advocate—to explore healing, leadership, and what it means to carry the work forward across generations. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience, Barb shares how Indigenous approaches to wellness—grounded in culture, land, language, and relationships—can reshape both community care and broader systems. Together, they unpack cultural safety, Two-Eyed Seeing, and the importance of strength-based, community-led approaches. This conversation invites listeners to reflect on connection, courage, and our shared responsibility to support future generations. In this Episode: “Playing the long game” in wellness and systems change The role of Elders and intergenerational knowledge Two-Eyed Seeing: balancing Indigenous and Western approaches Why cultural safety is defined by those receiving care The importance of land, language, and community connection Strength-based approaches to healing and resilience Barb Martin is a Mi’kmaq leader from Eskasoni First Nation with over four decades of experience in Indigenous wellness, advocacy, and systems change. Her work bridges Indigenous knowledge and Western practices, grounded in relationships, respect, and community care. Fast Four Reflections Hope: Youth Home: On the land, in ceremony Meaning: Her work and spirituality Gift: Grounded strength Credits Rekindling the Fire is produced for the First Peoples Wellness Circle by David McGuffin and Graham McGuffin ( ExploreProductions.ca ) Music by Nagamo Publishing. For more on the work of the First Peoples Wellness Circle please visit www.fpwc.ca Listener Care Notice This episode discusses colonial impacts and intergenerational trauma. Please take care while listening and access support if needed. Support Resources National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988

“Life promotion is about picking up life—rekindling it, grounding it in kindness, balance, and the gifts we all carry.” In this episode, host Rachel Robinson sits down with Connor Lafortune—a poet, activist, and life promotion advocate from Dokis First Nation—to explore how Indigenous youth are reshaping the future of mental wellness. Connor shares his journey from aspiring law student to community-based wellness leader, grounded in culture, land and storytelling. Together, they unpack the difference between reactive approaches like crisis response and proactive approaches rooted in life promotion—a strengths-based, culturally grounded way of nurturing wellness from the start. This conversation invites listeners into a deeper understanding of balance, belonging, and the importance of reconnecting with culture, community, and self. In this Episode: What “life promotion” means and how it differs from Western mental health models Why language and culture shape how we understand wellness The role of land, community, and storytelling in healing and identity How Indigenous youth are reclaiming space, asking questions, and leading change The importance of intergenerational connection—learning with and from elders How art, poetry, and creativity can ground us and connect us to spirit Why wellness isn’t individual—it’s deeply rooted in community care Connor Lafortune is an Anishinaabe, queer, and Francophone artist and advocate whose work spans life promotion, harm reduction, Indigenous education, and the arts. Through poetry, storytelling, and cultural programming, Connor creates spaces for healing, reflection, and imagining new futures. Fast Four Reflections Hope: His nephew Home: Out on the land, in community Meaning: The work he does and the people he’s with Gift: Storytelling Rekindling the Fire is produced for the First Peoples Wellness Circle by David McGuffin and Clare McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca Music by Nagamo Publishing www.fpwc.ca / info@fpwc.ca / Facebook / X.com / LinkedIn Listener Care Notice: This episode includes discussions of colonial impacts, including language loss and intergenerational trauma. Listeners may feel activated by some of the content. Please prioritize your wellbeing and access support if needed. Support Resources: National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 | https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/ Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 | https://talksuicide.ca/ 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8 | https://988.ca/

“Language is more than words — it is life, spirit, and the medicine that brings us back to ourselves.” In this episode of Rekindling the Fire, host Rachel Robinson sits down with Opolahsomuwehs (Dr. Imelda Perley) — respected Wolastoqey Elder, language keeper, ceremonial leader, and educator — for a powerful and grounding conversation about reclaiming language, identity, and holistic wellness. Together, they explore how Indigenous language is not just a tool for communication, but a living system of relationships — connecting us to land, ancestors, and each other. Opolahsomuwehs shares teachings from her lifelong journey, from growing up immersed in storytelling and ceremony to leading naming ceremonies, language revitalization, and cultural healing practices across generations. At the heart of this episode is a profound reminder: nothing has happened to the language — it still lives within us and around us. What is needed is the courage and commitment to awaken it. From spirit naming ceremonies and traditional birthing practices, to bringing language into schools, health systems, and even digital spaces like apps and gaming, Opolahsomuwehs reflects on innovative and culturally rooted ways to reconnect youth and communities with their identity. She speaks candidly about the impacts of colonization, the loss of language, and the importance of shifting from systems of deficit toward strength, belonging, and relationality. This conversation also offers powerful teachings on: Language as medicine for mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness The importance of naming, identity, and connection to ancestors Reframing healing spaces through Indigenous language and worldview The role of ceremony in everyday life — from water teachings to daily practices of gratitude Supporting youth, neurodiverse children, and future generations through love and cultural grounding Through stories of water ceremony, community transformation, and intergenerational learning, A Blossom Was reminds us that healing is not about moving forward alone — it is about returning to what has always been within us. This episode is an invitation to rekindle that fire — to remember who we are, where we come from, and how we carry that forward. Rekindling the Fire is produced for the First Peoples Wellness Circle by David McGuffin and Clare McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca Music by Nagamo Publishing www.fpwc.ca / info@fpwc.ca / Facebook / X.com / LinkedIn Listener Care Notice: This episode includes discussions of colonial impacts, including language loss and intergenerational trauma. Listeners may feel activated by some of the content. Please prioritize your wellbeing and access support if needed. Support Resources: National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 | https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/ Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 | https://talksuicide.ca/ 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8 | https://988.ca/

T’áncháy Redvers (they/them) is a Dene and Métis two-spirit storyteller, writer, and advocate from Deninu Kųę́ First Nation in the Northwest Territories. They are the co-founder of We Matter, a national Indigenous-led organization dedicated to life promotion and hope for Indigenous youth. Through public speaking, media, and community work, T’áncháy centers Indigenous joy, mental wellness, and two-spirit visibility, inspiring young people across Turtle Island and beyond.

Tina Armstrong is Caribou Clan and a proud member of Bearskin Lake First Nation in Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory. She is a residential school survivor with over 35 years of experience in the social work field, working alongside grassroots community members and leadership teams in empowerment, restoration, reconciliation, and reclamation.

Dr. Brenda Restoule is Ojibwe from Dokis First Nation and a registered clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience supporting First Nations communities. She is the CEO of First Peoples Wellness Circle, an Indigenous-led national organization advancing healing and wellness through culture, traditional knowledge, and Two-Eyed Seeing. Her work spans community mental wellness, addictions, crisis response, and systems leadership.

She:kon, Aanii, Hello and welcome to Rekindling the Fire, a podcast by First Peoples Wellness Circle. Rekindling the Fire was created for and with the Indigenous mental wellness workforce, to provide support, insight, and connection around the vital work of caring for our communities. Each episode explores what it means to sustain wellness in these roles, blending cultural knowledge, lived experience, and practical tools to support healing and balance by talking with the people who are doing the work. Host Rachel Robinson is the Knowledge Exchange Facilitator at First Peoples Wellness Circle. She is a member of the Lenape Nation, from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Since joining First Peoples Wellness Circle in 2023, her focus has been on supporting helpers across the workforce. We look forward to you joining us.