I write to discover what I know - Flannery O’Connor

Writing has always been a creative outlet for me, while story telling has been something our ancestors have done and the Métis continue to do today. After taking an online writing and publishing course in the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic, I began to focus in earnest on my writing practice. I had my first piece published this year with the BC Federation of Writers in the Roots to Branches Volume 2 anthology - The Beading Circle.

In 2022, I had the opportunity to complete the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program through the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. The project I worked on was a writing project telling the stories of Métis Women who live in British Columbia titled Daughters of the Land Mothers of the Country - the title referencing the tombstone of one of my grandmothers. Living outside of the traditional prairie homeland of the Métis people has posed many challenges for Métis women in BC, yet these stories are rich in colour and abundance - our women are strong and beautiful and our Nation is all the better for it. Currently, the stories remain unpublished but I am seeking opportunities to have them reach a wider audience.

I am currently a mentor for the 2024 cohort of the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program and am once again reminded of the beautiful and rich stories Indigenous women have to offer.