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About

We believe that the strength of our communities lives within our relationships to our Ancestors, our Lands, our languages, and one another. Through rematriation, we seek to restore the connections, responsibilities, and Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing that have sustained our peoples for generations.

Our Story


Indigenous Matriarchs Wellness Society was formally incorporated in British Columbia on December 6, 2023. Our purpose is rooted in a commitment to restoring the relationships, Knowledge systems, and responsibilities that have sustained Indigenous communities since time immemorial.
 

For generations, Indigenous peoples have experienced disruptions to their languages, Lands, families, and traditional systems of care. Yet our Knowledge, strength, and responsibilities to one another continue.
 

We believe that healing requires more than addressing the impacts of colonization. It requires creating the conditions for our communities to reclaim their identities, strengthen their relationships, and carry forward the knowledge of their ancestors.
 

Rematriation is central to this vision. It invites us to restore Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, while honouring the relationships and responsibilities that connect generations.

Through this work, we seek to support communities where children are safe, youth are empowered, families are connected, and Indigenous peoples have opportunities to heal and thrive on their own terms.

Meet the Team

Studio portrait of a woman with long, dark hair wearing a rust-colored shirt and black cardigan. The soft, blurred background suggests a professional, neutral office environment.
Studio photography of a woman with wavy brown hair looking directly at the camera. She wears a simple brown shirt in a soft, bright, and professional setting.
Studio photography, a professional headshot of an Asian-American woman wearing a black blazer and a rust-colored scarf. She presents a warm, confident, and approachable demeanor.

Leona Prince

President

Chrystal Vanderwijk

Secretary-Treasurer

Carmen Charlie

Director

Looking Forward

Our Vision
 

We envision a future where Indigenous communities are grounded in their ancestral Knowledge, children grow up safe and connected to their identities, and families thrive through strong kinship relationships.
 

A future where our languages are spoken, our relationships with the Land are honoured, and our communities are empowered to define wellness, healing, and belonging for themselves.
 

A future where Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing are not simply remembered, but lived and carried forward for generations to come.

 

Our Mission
 

To advance the rematriation of Indigenous communities by restoring ancestral knowledge, strengthening family and kinship relationships, supporting youth leadership, and reconnecting Indigenous peoples to their lands, languages, cultures, and identities.
 

We are committed to fostering spaces for healing, safety, belonging, and collective wellness while addressing the ongoing impacts of colonization, systemic violence, and intergenerational trauma.

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