Caretaking Earthside

Della (Rice) Sylvester / Huyamisé is a member of the Cowichan Tribes First Nations. As a young girl Della learned about plants as food and medicine from her Grandmothers Ellen Johnny and Sylvestra Modeste. Ellen was a midwife who helped birth over 300 babies in the Cowichan Valley; and Sylvestra was well known for her local cultural keeping. As her inspiration, these women challenged Della to a lifelong learning about medicines, culture, health, and well-being. Della’s work includes being involved in nature’s advocacy throughout her lifetime; working for 4 years with the BC Wild’s Leadership Initiative for Environment; with Nancy Turner; and with the Pacific Networking Association, which is a group of cultural and spiritual First Nations from around the Pacific Ocean. Della’s training through her Aunt – Ellen White of Snuneymuxw, taught her the cultural and spiritual aspects of Ethnobotany. Della’s ongoing self-training included handling large crowds.

For nearly two decades, Ironhawk-Tommy has served as a licensed practical nurse with Cowichan Tribes and Vancouver Island Health Authority, blending Indigenous and Western scientific approaches to address community health needs. Since 2019, as part of the Maternal Child Health Healthy Families Team within Hwialusmutul’s Community Health Team, she has provided culturally safe, locally grounded programs focused on infant and child health, maternal and women’s wellness, and youth and adult wellness. Currently, she is studying Indigenous midwifery with the National Council of Indigenous Midwives, aiming to reclaim and revitalize traditional midwifery education passed down through her ancestors.

Drawing on local traditions, Ironhawk-Tommy is committed to rebirthing longstanding Indigenous midwifery practices that contribute to healthy children and families. Her approach is deeply rooted in her Cowichan worldview, lived experiences, and relational commitments. With a legacy of birth work inherited from her mother, grandmothers, and generations of ancestors, she is honored to continue this work. Her intergenerational approach, informed by cultural practices and land-based methods, is grounded in Indigenous self-determination and dedicated to sustaining the health and well-being of her community.

Nicole Williams is Nlaka’pamux’,  she was born and raised in Vancouver. Studied at Malaspina University in 2005, transferred to Thompson River’s University in 2006 taking Business Administration, she started running the Prenatal Outreach Program in 2005 for the Nlaka’pamux’ Nation until 2015, in 2011 she became the Community health worker (CHR) of Oregan Jack Creek Community and is still doing that contract work. She next achieved her DONA International Doula certificate in 2015 and moved to Aboriginal Infant Development in 2015. In 2018 she started overseeing all Indigenous Early Years Prevention Services for the Secwepemc Nation and is the Early Years Team Leader in her full-time employment. In 2020 she helped change the Standard’s of Practice for Indigenous Doulas accessing the BC Aboriginal Association of Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) Aboriginal Doula’s Grant Program and became an Aboriginal Doula trainer for them in 2021 when she created her Indigenous Doula Curriculum and has currently trained over 80 new Doulas in the Province. In 2022 she became the liaison to the funders for the BCAAFC grant program and is Knowledge keeper for them also, she’s also helped create a video for the graduating Nurses at Thompson Rivers University fourth year students on Anti- racism as well as taught fourth year Doctors form Interior Health anti racism. In 2024 she completed her Child Birth Educator certificate and Indigenous Lactation Consultant. She is a mother of three and was gifted three beautiful children as well.

Indigenous birth keeper and Roots worker connecting children and families to culture and community. Willow is a Secwepemc women from Xatsull First Nations residing in Tkemlups/Kamloops BC. Willow is a strong advocate and traditional knowledge keeper working within child welfare. She is a mother to two children navigating a walk between two worlds, mainstream and holistic wellbeing. Willow brings her own knowledge from living and working with families and beings a knowledge to language and advocation when working with our families in hospital settings.

G̱ilakas’la, I am Kathleen Lounsbury from the Kwakwak’awakw territories, ‘Yalis or Alert Bay, BC.

I am currently a PhD in Nursing student (year 3) and am focusing on Indigenous Birthing Sovereignty for my dissertation research work in the next two years. Most of my nursing career has been in Indigenous community and I have a passion for bringing our traditions and practices back to our communities and changing the colonial places of care. It is very important to me to see Indigenous communities in BC grow their voice regarding birthing and events that surround this time for birthing families. I currently teach in the Trinity Western School of Nursing, bringing Indigenous knowledges throughout the 4 year curriculum which is part of the TRC calls to action. On a personal note, I have 3 children, ages 20, 17 and 15 and have been married for 28 years and we live in the North Surrey area.

ANCESTOR CAFE / TRADISH FOOD TRUCK / TRADISH PLANT MEDICINE / 2023 NOMZ GRANT RECIPIENT / FEATURED CHEF AT SPO7EZ FALL FEST 2023 / JOY OF FEEDING UBC & CHUCK & THE FIRST PEOPLES KITCHEN

Our goal is to nurture a deeper appreciation for Indigenous culture through culinary experiences and offer visitors an opportunity to learn about Indigenous ingredients through our dishes.

Yaw, Nts Lha Mukwanlhta.

Hello, My name is Marissa Charlie. I come from the house of Snuxyaltwa from the Nuxalk Nation. My ancestral roots span to the Villages of the Gitwinksihlkw and Kwakwaka’wakw. I currently work as a Paramedic with BC Ambulance and my work as a Birth Keeper remains as a Heart/Passion Project.

My journey as a Birth Keeper started long before working as a Doula. As the eldest granddaughter of my generation, the responsibility often fell upon me to uphold, care, and look over my many siblings/ cousins/ and those of the younger generations. Naturally, as a dedicated sister, aunty, and daughter, this had grown to be my desire in my everyday life. Empower, Embrace, and Uphold our beautiful families in their Journeys. Protecting what was, and will be once again a Sacred Ceremony of Welcoming Life into this World.

Yaw,

Nts lha Snuxi, my name is Cheyenne Tweedie from the Nuxalk Nation and Mikisew Cree Nation. I am a mother of two beautiful boys and have many nieces and nephews that I humbly get to witness grow and be apart of their upbringings.

My current position that I hold at Nuslhiixwta (A Place of Treasure) is the AIDP (Aboriginal Infant Development Program) consultant here in the Nuxalk territory. I have dedicated the last fifteen years working with infants, children and youth within the valley.

Uplifting our next generation has always been a passion of mine. Having the honour to watch and help them grow into the strong, independent young adults they grew into today and for what the future holds for the ones just learning their Abc’s and 1, 2, 3s has driven me to wanting to help and engage in a future helping with births at home. Bringing births home also means reawakening our traditions almost lost. Being apart of the first here has been one of the greatest blessings I could have the privilege of being apart of. I look forward to what the future hold for my people.

Lxakmlayc is the Cultural Coordinator and Speech and Language Assistant at Nuslhiixwta. Lxakmlayc incorporates nuxalk knowledge within the workspace, which has led to an annual Apcwakm ceremony at Nuslhiixwta. Who is also currently emerging their art practice and breathing new life into traditional birthing practices while revitalizing knowledge to support new mothers and families.

Yaw, My Nuxalk name is Spuxanm, my non- indigenous name is Maria. I come from the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola B.C. I currently work at Vancouver Coast Hospital as a MHSU Wellness Worker. I supported the homebirth by making sure the client didn’t have to worry about anything in the home, the client could focus on herself and her baby. Example making sure her other 3 children were cared for; meals were ready for the workers and family make sure things were cleaned etc. It takes a good team to make sure everything goes smoothly. The client had an amazing team, and it was an honor to be part of something that hasn’t been practiced in over 100 years.

Tia Felix is a proud member of the Splatsín Band, raised on-reserve by a strong mother and a supportive community in the Interior of BC. She is a Secwepemc Registered Midwife, IBCLC, completing her MPH at UVIC, and serves as the Co-Chair of the MABC Indigenous Midwifery Council. Her work is centered on rural and remote care, with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed, harm-reduction approaches within collaborative care team models.

Yaw, Nts lhaa Anuspuxmlayc. My name is Kiaya Tallio, i’m from the Nuxalk Nation of Bella Coola BC. I’m a daughter, cousin, auntie, sister, life giver, and first of all a mother to four beautiful children. I’m that ancestor that stands for our rights as an indigenous female leader. I’m that future ancestor that hosted our first traditional birthing ceremony in over 100 years. I’m the provider that loves ambitiously not only for my own but others as well. I’m pleased to walk this path of stm’staliwa and honoured to be with you all today for future generations to learn.