Relentless Indigenous Woman Podcast

Relentless Indigenous Woman

Welcome to the Relentless Indigenous Woman podcast—a space for uncensored and unapologetic conversations on the lived realities of Indigenous Peoples.

Hosted by Dr. Candace Manitopyes, a proud Moose Cree First Nation educator, advocate, and scholar, this podcast invites you to listen, grow, and take meaningful action.

With a community of over 750,000 followers across social media, Dr. Manitopyes has become a powerful voice in bold Indigenous education, truth-telling, and solidarity.

Here, education becomes rebellion. Resistance. Revolution.

Whether you are an Indigenous listener or an ally committed to learning, this podcast exists to challenge, inspire, and empower.

www.relentlessindigenouswoman.ca

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21 episodes
Updated Wednesday
Explicit

Episodes21

Newest first

Wednesday · 54 min
Ep. 65: Becoming Deer Lady: Matriarchal Rage as Creative Fuel with Kaniehtiio Horn
"Rage is love on fire." This episode feels like a long-awaited conversation between kindred spirits. Host, Dr. Candace Manitopyes, connects with Kaniehtiio (Tiio) Horn and unravel Indigenous sterotypes from the very beginning of their talk. The two women immediately get into convos about the complicated, beautiful, and sometimes jagged truth of existing as light-skinned Indigenous women. They also talk about rage. Tiio shares how she carried a quiet shame about her anger for years after surviving the Oka crisis; trying to fit herself into boxes that never held her. Now, she uses that energy as creative fuel. Her work, including her role as the Deer Lady in Reservation Dogs and her horror-comedy (and quite cathartic) film Seeds, serves as a vessel for that unbridled spirit. She creates art that demands we look at the reality of who we are, and how there is deep strength in admitting that we all have violence inside us. It's just a matter of learning to channel it into our stories instead of against ourselves. This conversation serves as an invitation to every person who has felt silenced. Tiio reminds us that we possess the agency to craft our own narratives. We are reclaiming our joy, rage, and futures. Relentless Reflections Stop labeling your rage as something that needs to be hidden or suppressed. Spend time this week sitting with your rage, naming its source, and acknowledging that your anger is a valid response to your history and your environment. Identify the spaces in your life where you are defaulting to people-pleasing to maintain a false peace. Question whether you are shrinking your own voice or your boundaries to keep others comfortable, and sit with the reality of what that silence is costing you. Relentless Actions Select one specific area of your life—whether it is your creative work, your advocacy, or your daily decisions—where you will consciously pour your energy instead of swallowing it. Use that force to build, write, or act on something that serves your truth. Actively seek out people in your life who refuse to be "yes" people for you. Ask them for unfiltered feedback on your goals, your ideas, and your blind spots so you can stop second-guessing your own power and move forward with clarity. Relentless Resources Follow Tiio's journey on Instagram here: @kaniehtiio Check out Reservations Dogs (Hulu) to watch Tiio's iconic role as Deer lady or check out her horror-comedy film Seeds (a MUST watch) Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
July 29 · 27 min
Ep. 64: Hockey is Good Medicine: The Smudge the Blades Story with Harlan Kingfisher
Hockey is good medicine, and Harlan Kingfisher (aka Smudge the Blades) is proving that with every single stride on the ice. In this episode, Dr. Candace hangs out with the legend behind Smudge the Blades, Harlan Kingfisher, to dig into his journey from Sturgeon Lake to the junior and college rinks. They talk about how he turned his passion into a platform that celebrates First Nations identity and explore how his viral "Smudge Celly" became a movement, encouraging Indigenous kids to bring their culture onto the ice and feel proud of who they are while they play. Beyond the gear and the hype, Harlan is all about showing up for the community. He works to make sure kids have the equipment they need and helps cover registration fees so they can get in the game. They chat about why this matters, how he stays grounded, and why it is vital to create a space for the next generation to chase their dreams without needing to change who they are. Relentless Actions Use your own resources to help a youth in your community with hockey equipment or registration fees. This contribution ensures a young person gains the confidence to participate in the game. Find specific ways to integrate your authentic identity into professional or social spaces. When you choose to be yourself, you dismantle barriers for others and grant them permission to do the same. Relentless Reflections Identify the practice that keeps you humble and connected to your origins. Whether it is family, community service, or a personal ritual like smudging, prioritize this practice to stay grounded during busy times. Consider your capacity to influence others. Reflect on how you distribute your energy and resources to ensure you pull others up alongside you as you achieve your goals. Relentless Resources Smudge the Blades: Visit Harlan’s platform to see how an apparel brand serves as a vehicle for cultural pride and community support. Local Grassroots Sports Boards: Contact your local minor hockey or community sports board. Ask about specific opportunities to sponsor a child for the upcoming season to remove financial barriers for families. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
July 22 · 54 min
Ep. 63: From Embroidery to Empire: The Power of Starting Small in Entrepreneurship with Michelle Cameron
Ever feel like you need the perfect plan before starting your business? In this episode of Relentless Indigenous Woman, Dr. Candace Manitopyes welcomes Michelle Cameron, CEO of Dreamcatcher Promotions, to talk about the messy, real, and rewarding path of Indigenous entrepreneurship. From their hilarious first meeting stuck in a blizzard-bound minivan in Northern Ontario to Michelle building a multi-million dollar company with nothing but a used embroidery machine and YouTube tutorials, they discuss how you don't need perfection to start, you just need the drive to change your life. The two dig deep into breaking the "poverty mindset," the importance of seeking help through Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs) for business planning, and why true luxury is a calm nervous system and time with family. If you’ve been letting fear or shame hold you back from your vision, this conversation is your sign to keep going. Tune in to learn why you deserve to thrive, how to stop trying to do everything yourself, and why "Growth Valley" is where your biggest breakthroughs happen. Relentless Actions Outsource the "Scary" Parts: If "business plan," "taxes," or "finances" are stopping you from starting, stop forcing yourself to do it alone. Seek out your local Indigenous Financial Institution (IFI); they often have programs that provide funding specifically to hire consultants who can write business plans and handle financial setup for you. Audit Your "Spending vs. Investing": Take a hard look at your current money habits. If you are struggling with a "poverty mindset" where money disappears as soon as it arrives, try starting small by setting aside even a minimal amount (like $100/month or a percentage of income) into a "slush fund" or savings account to build a buffer. Practice shifting from impulsive spending to intentional investing in your own business growth. Relentless Reflections Redefine "Growth Valley" vs. "Death Valley": While the first five years of business are often called "Death Valley" due to high failure rates, view them instead as "Growth Valley." This phase is a crucible for your own personal development. It will force you to become more innovative, brave, and honest about what is—and isn't—working in your venture. Wealth is More Than Material: Colonization has distorted our relationship with luxury. True luxury is not just material possession; it is a calm nervous system, the ability to trust your relationships, having time for your family, and the freedom to contribute back to your community. When you ground yourself in these values, you become a more resilient and effective entrepreneur. Resources Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs): These organizations are essential for Indigenous entrepreneurs. They provide not just capital, but often access to "aftercare" programs and consultants who can teach you financial literacy and business planning. Look for your regional IFI, such as the First Peoples Economic Growth (Manitoba) or similar entities in your province. Dreamcatcher Promotions: Indigenous-owned and trusted nationwide, we create custom branded merchandise and apparel that reflects your organization’s identity and supports your goals https://www.dreamcatcherpromotions.ca/ Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
July 15 · 59 min
Ep. 62: The Art of Unforgetting: How Land-Based Wisdom Rewires the Western Mind with Patty Krawec
What if the very tools we use to understand history (time, progress, and even language) are the exact things preventing us from achieving true collective liberation? In this episode, Dr. Candace Manitopyes welcomes author and speaker Patty Krawec to discuss the profound necessity of "unforgetting." They dismantle the myth that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are sufficient, arguing that without a fundamental shift in how we relate to the Land and each other and history, we are simply building a larger, more inclusive colonial tent. Patty shares how Anishinaabemowin and other process-oriented, Land-based ways of knowing offer a radical alternative to the Western, noun-based, and time-obsessed worldview. They explore why our stories, science, and sense of self are inextricably linked to place, and why we must move from passive consumption of information to intentional, capacity-based action. This is an invitation to stop "dunking" on each other on social media and start building webs of knowledge that actually sustain our communities. Relentless Actions The Capacity Audit: Stop "rage-posting" and start organizing. When you feel triggered by an injustice, don't let it paralyze you. Instead, adopt the framework discussed in the episode: Ask yourself four questions: What can I learn about this? Who is already doing the work? What is my actual capacity to help? And what is the most constructive thing I can do right now? Whether it is starting a small book club or supporting an existing group, move from consumption to contribution. Commit to Intellectual Decolonization: Intentionally break your dependence on the traditional canon. Commit to reading broadly—specifically prioritizing Indigenous, Black, and queer authors whose work challenges the "European binary" lens. Treat this as a discipline to rewire your own brain, forcing yourself to engage with perspectives that view history as place-based and relational rather than linear and progress-oriented. Relentless Reflection On Honesty vs. Approval: Dr. Candace asks, "Where is the approval coming from in how you function and operate in the world?" Reflect on a project, role, or political stance you have taken recently. Was it an authentic expression of your heart's alignment, or were you seeking validation from a system you claim to oppose? On Relational History: Patty notes that Western history is obsessed with when things happened, while Indigenous ways of knowing focus on where things happened. How would your understanding of your own family, community, or local history shift if you re-centered your perspective around the land you are on, rather than the dates on a calendar? Relentless Resources Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future by Patty Krawec: A foundational text for excavating history and reimagining our relationships. Thousandworlds.ca: Patty Krawec’s blog, where she continues the vital work of reflecting on literature, history, and our place in the world. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
July 8 · 54 min
Ep. 61: Building the Muscle of Leadership with Jocelyn Formsma, CEO of Indspire
This conversation opens with the beautiful, grounding discovery that Dr. Candace (the host) is blood kin with Jocelyn, a reminder that this work is always rooted in relationship and interconnectedness. In this episode, Dr. Candace connects with Jocelyn Formsma, CEO of Indspire, to unpack what leadership looks like when we move beyond top-down models and into the role of a "big auntie"—someone who shows up to mentor, advocate, and walk beside the next generation. They explore the transformative power of bravery, reframing "faking it till you make it" not as a deception, but as a practice to build the muscle of strength already within us. By prioritizing professional networks and mentorship, we are creating a foundation of capacity-building that ensures our youth feel safe, proud, and supported in their leadership journeys. They dig into what decolonial and solidarity work truly demands, acknowledging that it isn’t found in slogans or performative gestures, but in the messy, consistent work of showing up, immersion, and genuine care. When facing the overwhelm of these big spaces, Jocelyn reminds us to lean into curiosity (asking "why" instead of retreating into segregation) and to embrace the duality of strength, where we can be both powerful leaders and vulnerable humans, fuelled by the joy and humour that keep us going. Relentless Actions Implement "30 Seconds of Bravery" for Networking: When you feel the hesitation of being shy or uncertain, set a physical or mental 30-second timer. Use that window to introduce yourself, walk to the front of the room, or send that outreach email you’ve been holding onto. Don't let the "water get colder" by waiting—just jump in. Build Your Professional Peer Network: Following Jocelyn’s advice, actively identify and nurture a peer group separate from your personal circle—people you trust to discuss work, strategy, and challenges. These are the people who will provide the "real responsibility" and ongoing mentorship you need to advance, just as your own mentors did for you. Relentless Reflections On the Duality of Strength: Are you allowing yourself to hold conflicting truths simultaneously? Reflect on whether you are suppressing your vulnerability in an attempt to project "badass" leadership. True endurance comes from balancing the knowledge that you are powerful with the humble acknowledgment of your own humanity and mistakes. On Moving Beyond the "Settler Question": Instead of constantly asking for spoon-feeding or seeking comfort in these dialogues, reflect on whether you are doing the "messy work" of immersion. Are you showing up in ways that go beyond slogans, hashtags, or performative gestures to build actual, lived relationships with Indigenous people and communities? Relentless Resources The "Oshkatsuck" Youth Council: Look into the work of the Oshkatsuck (formerly the National Decade for Youth Council), which Jocelyn highlights as a gold standard for youth engagement and capacity building. Use their model as a template for how to center youth voices in your own organizational structure. Indspire’s Educational Programs: Explore the resources and scholarships offered by Indspire. Even if you aren't directly applying, their model of "capacity-building" and educational support is a powerful roadmap for how to systemically value and invest in Indigenous futures rather than just offering charity. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
July 1 · 53 min
Ep. 60: The Art of Indigenous Media with Nicole Robertson
In this episode, host Dr. Candace Manitopyes speaks with Nicole Robertson, a Cree media specialist from the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and one of the most respected voices in Indigenous communications. With over 30 years of experience across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., Nicole has shaped the way Indigenous stories are told through her work as a journalist, producer, and media strategist. This dialogue invites listeners to embrace the cyclical nature of life, recognizing that growth often requires moments of grief, stillness, and surrender. Relentless Questions What expectations am I carrying that were never truly mine to begin with? In what ways can I offer myself more grace as I step into a new season or identity? How can I stay grounded in my values and identity while navigating systems that may not reflect or affirm them? Relentless Actions Pause and reflect before reacting. Give yourself space to process emotions, ask deeper questions, and respond with intention rather than urgency. Stay rooted in community and culture. Whether through language, ceremony, or relationships, continue to reconnect with the spaces and practices that ground you. Growth does not always have to happen in isolation. Relentless Resources Follow Nicole Robertson and her work in Indigenous storytelling and media at @muskwamedia on Instagram Listen to the Stolen Voices Podcast, which explores human trafficking in Indigenous communities and amplifies critical conversations around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit peoples. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
June 24 · 49 min
Ep. 59: The Revolutionary Act of Existing: Indigenous Queer and Trans Joy with Dr. Amáyá Scott
To walk through this world as an Indigenous trans or queer person is to reclaim a sacred, ancestral freedom that the colonial design never anticipated. In this episode, Dr. Amáyá Scott and Dr. Candace Manitopyes connect the threads of their experiences, exploring how joy functions as a revolutionary act of defiance. Their conversation journeys through the exhaustion of the digital age, where algorithms thrive on anger and leave our nervous systems frayed. They offer a gentle invitation to step away from the screen and return home to the messy, beautiful, and wonderfully inconvenient spaces where community actually lives—the post office lines, the grocery store aisles, and the quiet corners of our physical neighborhoods. Love and joy can be found in what may seem like the mundane. Relentless Actions Choose one digital interaction—a comment, a "like," or a political post—that you would typically engage in to signal your stance, and instead, redirect that energy toward an unmediated, physical interaction. Spend that time waiting in line at a local shop, offering a genuine, unhurried greeting to a neighbor, or sitting in a park without your phone. This is a practice of choosing the friction of real life over the frictionless, automated feedback loops of the algorithm. Identify one space in your life—whether it is your workplace, your home, or a public setting—where your identity or your joy is expected to be managed or diminished. Intentionally bring your full, vibrant self into that space, refusing to perform or dilute your presence. To exist in your truth, particularly when it contradicts the colonial standard, is a direct, relentless act of reclaiming ancestral territory. Relentless Reflections As you move through your day, ask yourself: Who is this platform serving when I am angry? Reflect on how your digital consumption—particularly the outrage cycles—is an extension of a colonial design that thrives on your nervous system being perpetually dysregulated. Consider how your attention is an ancestral resource, and reflect on what it would mean to reclaim it as a tool for deepening your actual, tangible relationships. Reflect on the ways you have been taught to minimize, pathologize, or hide your queer or trans essence to fit into colonial lines. Instead, hold the perspective that your existence is an unbroken, sacred continuity. Consider how simply choosing to be whole—rather than "productive" or "palatable"—shatters the colonial mirror and invites a new, expansive reality for everyone around you. Relentless Resources “I Am Proud to Be My Mother’s Daughter”: The Gift and Joy of Indigenous (Trans)womanhood in the Colonizing University by Dr. Amáyá Scott https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392686833_I_Am_Proud_to_Be_My_Mother's_Daughter_The_Gift_and_Joy_of_Indigenous_Transwomanhood_in_the_Colonizing_University https://dineaesthetics.com/ Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
June 17 · 47 min
Ep. 58: Quantum Connections: The Indigenous Science of Queer Identity with Dr. Alex Wilson
Colonial binaries impose a rigid grid of control, yet ancient Indigenous cosmologies have always held a different truth. Renowned Cree scholar Dr. Alex Wilson dismantles these imposed limitations by braiding Indigenous knowledge with the non-binary nature of quantum physics. She reminds us that "Queering is transforming poison into medicine." This conversation invites listeners to reject the constraints on identity and step into the vast, fluid reality of being Indigenous, where existence is not a set of isolated points but an expansive, vibrant web of relationship. Dr. Wilson also shares the "coming in" concept, a journey of returning to community, culture, and self. The discussion examines the lasting impacts of colonization, residential schools, and imposed binaries while offering hopeful visions for healing, belonging, and collective resurgence. This episode provides guidance for Indigenous people, Two-Spirit individuals, queer folks, educators, and anyone committed to learning or unlearning. It presents pathways for transforming colonial harms into medicine and reclaiming the complexity of Indigenous identity. Relentless Questions What parts of myself have I learned to hide to fit colonial expectations, and what would it look like to bring those parts back into relationship with my community, my ancestors, and myself? How might the Land, waters, plants, animals, and skies around me challenge the binaries and assumptions I have inherited about identity, belonging, and what is considered "normal"? Relentless Actions Spend time on the land without trying to categorize or control what you see. Observe a river, a patch of moss, the moon, migrating birds, or changing seasons. Notice the diversity, transformation, and fluidity that already exist in the natural world, and reflect on what these teachings reveal about human identity and relationships. Reach out to someone who helps you feel fully seen. Whether it's family, friends, Elders, chosen family, or community members, intentionally nurture relationships where authenticity is welcomed and celebrated. Practice "coming in" by building spaces where people can bring their whole selves without fear. Relentless Resources "Coming In" by Dr. Alex Wilson. Explore Dr. Wilson's research on "coming in," which reframes identity not as leaving one community behind, but as finding and creating circles of belonging where one's whole self is welcomed. This framework offers a deeply relational and Indigenous alternative to mainstream narratives of coming out. Pedagogy of Moss by Dr. Candace Manitopyes - a decolonial, symbiotic growth model designed to nurture responsive, culturally safe school environments for Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ K–12 students. Conceptualized by researcher and educator Dr. Candace Manitopyes in this dissertation, it uses moss as a metaphor for relational systemic growth, collective resilience, and community-driven collaboration Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
June 10 · 57 min
Ep. 57: Embracing Boldness: Ryan Breezy's Journey in Indigenous Fashion
In this episode of the June IndigiQueer series, host Dr. Candace welcomes the talented and iconic Ryan Breezy, a Diné and Southern San Juan Paiute model and makeup artist. Join them as they explore the vibrant world of Indigenous fashion, the importance of representation, and the journey of self-discovery through art and culture. Listeners will be inspired by Ryan's commitment to community and the way he embraces his identity with boldness. He emphasizes the significance of uplifting Indigenous voices and creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen and valued. The conversation also delves into the challenges Ryan has faced, including imposter syndrome, and how he has learned to embrace his uniqueness and share his story with others. Ryan shares his experiences in the fashion industry, the significance of community, and how he unapolegetically embraces his identity with boldness and authenticity. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that celebrates Indigenous voices and creativity! - Relentless Questions How has being queer and Indigenous shaped the questions you ask in academia and in life that colonial institutions are often unwilling or unable to ask? What does it mean to reclaim queerness not as a modern import or identity category, but as a sacred, pre-colonial way of being and relating that many Indigenous nations already held in deep relationship with the land? Relentless Actions Sit with grief and pause when needed. Allow grief to be a generative space rather than rushing productivity. Check in relationally with yourself (through therapy, internal dialogue, or ceremony) so that the work you bring forward comes from depth instead of performance or avoidance. Pull the next thread. When engaging with patriarchy, feminism, or any colonial structure, keep asking the deeper question: Where did this come from? Move beyond surface-level analysis into the roots in Christian colonial frameworks, and actively reconnect with your own ancestral knowledge and responsibilities — whether you are Indigenous or a settler. Relentless Resources Follow Ryan Breezy to see his boldness in fashion and in life grow in real-time at @ryanbreezy2 on Instagram Follow Dr. Autumn Black Deer (@DrBlackDeer on Instagram and LinkedIn) — for sharp, anti-colonial, relational scholarship at the intersections of queerness, Indigenous sovereignty, abolition, and child welfare. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
June 3 · 49 min
Ep. 56: Unpacking Queerness and Indigenous Identity Beyond the Binaries with Dr. Autumn BlackDeer
Our June IndigiQueer series kicks off with Dr. Candace Manitopyes and Dr. Autumn BlackDeer as they explore Indigenous queerness, decolonization, grief, identity, academia, and liberation beyond colonial binaries. They unpack how colonial systems shaped modern understandings of gender, sexuality, and what it means to reclaim Indigenous ways of being rooted in sovereignty. Dr. Autumn shares openly about grief after losing her mother, learning to write again, navigating academia as a queer Indigenous scholar, and refusing to compartmentalize herself in professional spaces. Dr. Candace and Dr. Autumn also discuss the impact of Christian colonial frameworks, the violence of binaries, Indigenous understandings of queerness before colonization, and why liberation must always be collective. - Relentless Questions What colonial narratives about identity, gender, power, or belonging have I inherited, and what happens when I begin asking the next question? In what ways have I compartmentalized parts of myself to survive systems that were never built for relational, collective humanity? Relentless Actions Spend time reconnecting to relationship with land, community, ancestry, language, ceremony, creativity, or the parts of yourself that colonial systems taught you to silence. Pull at one thread. Choose one belief, assumption, or “normal” social expectation and ask where it came from, who benefits from it, and who is harmed by it. Relentless Resources Learn more about Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality by researching Two-Spirit histories, teachings, and community-led resources from Indigenous nations and knowledge keepers. Explore relational and decolonial healing practices such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), grief work, land-based learning, and Indigenous scholarship focused on sovereignty, abolition, and collective liberation. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
May 27 · 47 min
Ep. 55: Finding Our Way Back to Authenticity Beyond Colonialism with Artist & Author Steph Littlebird
Join us for a deeply meaningful conversation about the power of art and the healing it brings. Steph Littlebird shares how art became a safe space in her life; a way to process her experiences, express herself, and find her voice when words weren’t always accessible. What began as a personal outlet has grown into impactful work that resonates with others at a global scale; offering connection, validation, and a sense of not being alone. The two discuss the idea that many people carry an innate connection to the land, something often felt but not always understood. Through an unapologetic lens, this conversation highlights the importance of remembering that we are not separate from the earth, but part of it. The episode also touches on the realities of colonization, disconnection, and the challenges of navigating a fast-paced, reactive world. It offers a gentle invitation to slow down, embrace nuance, and create space for deeper reflection and emotional understanding. At its core, this conversation is healing, on both an individual and collective level. It speaks to reclaiming connection and finding our way back to something more grounded and authentic A powerful reminder that the most important work is simply remembering who we are. - Relentless Actions 1. Reconnect with the Land. Take a moment this week to step outside and be present with the land. Sit, walk, breathe… and simply listen. There is wisdom there that meets you exactly where you are. 2. Begin Telling Your Story. In whatever way feels safe and right for you—write it down, speak it out loud, create something. Your story matters and reclaiming it is a powerful act. Relentless Reflection 1. What does truth feel like in my body, and when do I notice myself moving away from it? Let this guide you back to your intuition and inner knowing. 2. What story within me is ready to be expressed, even in the smallest way? There is no right or wrong way to begin (the only wrong answer is a dishonest one) Relentless Resources 1. You are the Land by Steph Littlebird 2. Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) A key resource dedicated to supporting Indigenous creators in film, television, and digital media. They offer funding, training, and resources for those wanting to step into storytelling and media in a meaningful way. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
May 20 · 46 min
Ep. 54: Reclaiming the Body: Sovereignty, Healing & the Erotic with Dr. Savage Bear
What happens when the story shifts from trauma to sovereignty, from survival to power? The conversation between Dr. Savage Bear and Dr. Candace invites listeners into a deeply honest exploration of what it means to reclaim the body, rewrite inherited narratives, and return to Indigenous ways of knowing. Moving beyond the weight of deficit-based stories, it centres strength, Ancestry, and the truth that healing must hold both pain and possibility. At the heart of this dialogue is body sovereignty as a lived, felt experience. Through reflections on sexuality, ceremony, and connection, it challenges shame and calls for a return to presence, relationality, and accountability to self, to community, and to all our relations. It asks the listener to consider: what shifts when awareness turns into action? When healing moves out of the mind and into the body? Rooted in lived experience, this episode is a powerful reminder that reclamation is ongoing; of voice, of body, of identity. And that within Indigenous women lives a legacy of resilience, knowledge, and undeniable power. Relentless Actions Start from strength, not deficit. When reflecting on your story or your work, consciously begin from a place of strength, ancestry, and resilience, not just hardship.What wisdom, beauty, or power already exists here? Reframe your narrative in a way that honours both truth and possibility. Turn awareness into action: Choose one small, intentional action that aligns with your values; something that moves beyond conversation. This could be setting a boundary, engaging in ceremony, supporting community, or changing a daily habit. Close the gap between what you know and how you live. Relentless Reflections Am I telling my story from a place of strength, or from a place of survival? Where in my life am I being called to move from awareness into action? Relentless Resources Power in my Blood - Dr. Savage's award-winning PhD dissertation “Pleasure Activism” – Adrienne Maree Brown Explores the connection between pleasure, healing, and liberation. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
May 13 · 52 min
Ep. 53: The Legacy and Voice of Tantoo Cardinal
In this compelling episode, Tantoo Cardinal shares a deeply honest and reflective look into her life, her legacy, and the truth behind Indigenous storytelling. With a career spanning decades, Tantoo speaks from a place of purpose, rooted in truth, resilience, and responsibility to her people. She opens up about the realities of growing up in a world shaped by colonization, where Indigenous identity was often diminished or misunderstood, and how those early experiences sharpened her awareness and intuition. Rather than being drawn to the glamour of the film industry, Tantoo was called to it as a way to reclaim stories, restore dignity, and challenge harmful narratives that had long been imposed on Indigenous communities. Throughout the conversation, she shares the importance of staying grounded, through connection to the land, listening to one’s inner voice, and honouring the guidance of ancestors. She speaks candidly about the challenges of navigating an industry that was not built for Indigenous voices, and the strength it takes to remain authentic within it. This episode is both a reflection and a call forward, inviting listeners to reconnect with their roots, question the narratives they’ve been taught, and begin telling their own stories. It’s a powerful reminder that truth, when carried with intention, has the ability to shift not only stories, but entire generations. - Chapters (02:17) What is currently inspiring Tantoo right now (11:13) Stories were being told about what an indigenous person is (18:40) Young people now think they want to be stars or to be rich (32:07) Shame holds us back because we're scared of making a mistake (36:17) Advice for indigenous youth who are dreaming about pursuing an acting career (41:18) Stay grounded in land, respect others, and take care of yourself (46:33) The future of indigenous storytelling - Relentless Actions 1. Reconnect with the Land Take a moment this week to step outside and be present with the land. Sit, walk, breathe… and simply listen. There is wisdom there that meets you exactly where you are. 2. Begin Telling Your Story In whatever way feels safe and right for you—write it down, speak it out loud, create something. Your story matters and reclaiming it is a powerful act. Relentless Reflections 1. What does truth feel like in my body, and when do I notice myself moving away from it? Let this guide you back to your intuition and inner knowing. 2. What story within me is ready to be expressed, even in the smallest way? There is no right or wrong way to begin, just an invitation to start. Relentless Resources 1. National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC) An incredible organization supporting Indigenous storytellers, artists, and filmmakers across Canada. If you feel called to storytelling, this is a space to explore opportunities, community, and support. 2. Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) A key resource dedicated to supporting Indigenous creators in film, television, and digital media. They offer funding, training, and resources for Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
February 21 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep. 52: Returning to the Earth: Spiritual Wisdom for Chaotic Times with Dr. Rocio Rosales Meza
In the final episode of the winter season, Dr. Candace Manitopyes sits with Dr. Rocio Rosales Meza, a Xicana/Mexicana seer, initiated medicine woman, and psychologist whose work bridges ancestral teachings with liberation. They name the moment we’re living in—the collapse of empire, the overwhelm of digital life, and the spiritual and emotional toll of witnessing global injustice. Dr. Rocio shares how grounding in creation, tending to the Earth, and honouring the elements are what keep her centred when the world feels chaotic. Their conversation goes straight to the heart of what many are experiencing right now: the “spirit-eating” nature of colonial systems, the dysregulation caused by social media, and the exhaustion of carrying both awareness and responsibility online. They talk openly about burnout, boundaries, and the courage it takes to hold hope when the world keeps offering reasons to despair. Dr. Rocio offers wisdom from her own collapse—losing her tenured academic career during a health crisis—and how that breaking became the doorway to her calling. Both women unravel the myths of New Age spirituality, the reality of decolonization, and the necessity of confronting our shadow without shame. This episode is a reminder that healing is spiritual work, the underworld is part of the journey, and our medicine often lives in the very places we were taught to fear. It’s an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and remember who we were before colonial conditioning told us otherwise. https://www.drrosalesmeza.com/ @dr.rosesalesmeza - Relentless Action 1. For one week, track when you override your limits, numb out online, or perform “awareness” instead of feeling — then name the body sensation underneath it. 2. Write from the part of you that feels resentful, jealous, exhausted, or ashamed, then respond from your grounded adult self without exiling what you find. Relentless Reflection 1. Where have I mistaken visibility or knowledge for actual integrity? 2. What part of me did I silence to survive systems that were never built for my wholeness? Relentless Resources 1. All About Love by bell hooks. A rigorous examination of how domination distorts love, spirituality, and community, and what it takes to confront those distortions inside ourselves. 2. Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés A deep reclamation of the instinctual feminine and the underworld journey, unpacking how culture fractures women from their wild knowing — and how to return. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
February 14 · 51 min
Ep. 51: Navigating Medicine as a Young Cree Physician with Dr. Tara Hutchison
In this powerful cousin episode, Dr. Candace Manitopyes welcomes her cousin, Dr. Tara Hutchison, a young Cree physician from Moose Cree First Nation, for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation about medicine, culture, identity, and the realities facing Indigenous communities today. Both women discuss the emotional labour of being Indigenous professionals in colonial systems: balancing advocacy with gentleness, resisting the pressure to be palatable, and unpacking the internal battles around perfectionism and imposter syndrome. They speak openly about therapy, burnout, and the crash that often follows major achievements, reminding listeners that success doesn’t erase vulnerability. The episode ultimately offers a portrait of two Cree women who have navigated demanding systems while staying rooted in who they are and where they come from. It celebrates community, resilience, cousinhood, and the growing wave of Indigenous people transforming medicine, education, and futures in their homelands and beyond. - Relentless Actions 1. Write down what you carry in rooms that isn’t in your job description, then choose one thing to stop doing this month. 2. Identify two people who understand your context without explanation and schedule a real check-in before burnout forces one. Relentless Reflection 1. Where did I learn that excellence is the price of belonging? 2. After I achieve something significant, do I let myself land or do I immediately chase the next proof of worth? Relentless Resources 1. My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies 2. Your Body Is Not an Apology Workbook: Tools for Living Radical Self-Love Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
February 7 · 43 min
Ep. 50: Not Your Stereotype: Rewriting Indigenous Representation with Crystle Lightning
In this vibrant episode, Dr. Candace Manitopyes speaks with acclaimed actress, musician, and director Crystle Lightning of Enoch Cree Nation, an artist whose three-decade career has broken barriers on screen, on stage, and behind the scenes. They get into the reality of working in film, television, and theatre—far beyond the glamor audiences see. Crystle opens up about the grit behind the craft, such as the long rehearsals, endless travel, last-minute script changes, and the discipline it takes to thrive in an industry that often expects Indigenous creators to prove themselves twice over. She talks about imposter syndrome, leading her cast with auntie-level care, and building space for emerging artists to stand confidently in rooms not built for them. The two discuss the creation of Bear Grease, the smash-hit Indigenous musical she co-created, and the wild, funny, nerve-wracking backstage moments that became the heartbeat of the show’s success. The episode ends on a powerful note: a call to action for Indigenous creatives to pursue their dreams with courage, curiosity, and community. Crystle reflects on the legacy she hopes to leave—opportunities, representation, and a path wider than the one she had to fight through. The conversation is full of laughter, truth-telling, motivation, and love for Indigenous art. It’s a celebration of what’s possible when Indigenous stories are centred, protected, and brought to life by Indigenous hands. - Relentless Reflection Where in my own creative or professional life am I still shrinking, even though I know I’m meant to take up more space? What barriers did my younger self face that I can now remove for someone coming up behind me? Relentless Actions Write down three tangible opportunities you can offer to another Indigenous creative this month (a connection, a recommendation, a shared resource, a skills exchange). Choose one creative risk you've been avoiding and commit to taking the first step within 72 hours—send the email, revise the script, shoot the video, publish the post. Relentless Resources Native Women in Film & Television (NWIFT) — advocacy, mentorship, and networking entirely focused on Indigenous women and gender-diverse creatives in film. Illuminative’s Storytelling Guides — free toolkits that help creators frame, protect, and elevate Indigenous narratives across industries. Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
January 31 · 48 min
Ep. 49: Unlearning the Colonial Lies, Reclaiming the Knowing with Tanya Talaga
In this gripping episode, Dr. Candace Manitopyes sits with award-winning journalist, author, and filmmaker Tanya Talaga, whose work has become a lifeline for truth in a country still wrestling with denial. From the moment they begin, the conversation feels less like an interview and more like two Indigenous women pulling back the curtain on generations of silence, survival, and spiritual return. Tanya shares her path from being the lone Indigenous journalist in mainstream newsrooms of the 1990s (where stories of Indigenous suffering were dismissed as repetitive or “not news”) to becoming one of the most vital Indigenous voices in Canada. She speaks about the spiritual rupture created by Christianity’s imposition on Treaty 9 families, the generational fear of ceremony, and what it means to finally question beliefs handed down in the name of survival. The conversation deepens as Tanya describes “the knowing”—the ancestral intuition that lives in Indigenous people, the sense that something is missing, the unspoken grief. She recounts sitting with survivors in Kamloops during the discovery of unmarked graves and how their words struck her like a freight train: “We always knew.” That knowing becomes the backbone of her work and the spiritual compass that guides her truth-telling. Candace and Tanya explore the cost of telling the truth, the courage it demands, and the liberation it creates for everyone who has been waiting to breathe. - Relentless Actions 1. Revisit one belief you inherited—not from your spirit, but from survival. Choose a belief handed down through family, school, or church about identity, ceremony, or “rightness.” Write down where it came from, and whether it still belongs to you. Release what no longer aligns. 2. Have one truth-centred conversation this week. This could be with a friend, a family member, or even your own journal. Name something you’ve been avoiding, such as a question, a discomfort, a story. Let truth, gentle or sharp, be medicine. Relentless Reflections 1. What truths have I been carrying quietly because I was afraid of what they might disrupt, and what would it mean to finally speak them? 2. Where does “the knowing” live in my body, and how often do I silence it to fit into spaces that were never built for me? Relentless Resources 1. The Knowing by Tanya Talaga, book 2. Debunking the “Mass Grave Hoax”: A Report on Media Coverage and Residential School Denialism in Canada, report Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
January 24 · 1 hr 7 min
Ep. 48: Two Lands, One Sound: Indigenous Music from Aotearoa to Turtle Island with Theia
Turtle Island (aka North America) meets Aotearoa (aka New Zealand), and the stories of Indigenous resistance mirror each other. Dr. Candace Manitopyes speaks with Māori artist Theia, whose music is less performance and more ceremony. Candace describes experiencing Theia’s live show as a moment of kinship across oceans, a palpable spiritual recognition that transcends borders and mirrors the shared wounds of colonization. Theia speaks about her journey from major-label constraints to full creative sovereignty, describing how leaving the industry machine allowed her to create the music she was born to make—music that confronts misogyny, racism, religious trauma, and the violent legacies of colonialism. Through her songs, she carries her grandmother’s stories, the generational scars of language loss, and the relentless fight for Māori sovereignty. The conversation moves into the political crisis unfolding in Aotearoa, where treaty rights, language, protests, and Māori cultural practices are under attack. Theia names both the devastation and the uprising—the collective defiance, the resurgence of language learners, artists, healers, and community protectors refusing to disappear. Candace and Theia speak to the alchemy of art: how music becomes medicine, how beauty can hold the darkness without collapsing, and how Indigenous women carry fire in ways the world is only beginning to understand. IG: @theiaofficialxo - Relentless Actions 1. Name one belief about your worth, your culture, your voice, or your ancestors that didn’t come from you but from colonial conditioning. Write it down. Then write the truth beneath it. Burn, shred, or bury the lie. Keep the truth visible. 2. Choose an action that requires courage (emailing a representative, donating to an Indigenous-led movement, showing up physically, correcting someone’s harmful language, or publicly naming the injustice happening in Aotearoa and on Turtle Island). Let the action stretch you. Relentless Reflections 1. Where am I still choosing comfort over justice, and who pays the price when I stay quiet? Sit with this without defending yourself. Let it sting. Let it teach you something about the gap between the person you are and the person you’re becoming. 2. What part of me is still afraid of my own power, and who taught me to fear it in the first place? Trace that fear back (family, church, school, government, media). When you see its origin, ask yourself: What would my life look like if I stopped inheriting their limitations and started inheriting my courage instead? Resources Resistance in Indigenous Music: A Continuum of Sound, academic article A Radical Revival: Indigenous Music Strikes Chords that Cross Borders, an article Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
January 17 · 59 min
Ep. 47: Letting Go of Shame, Keeping the Orgasms: Indigenous Erotica as Resistance with Dr. Tenille Campbell
This is the episode that will make listeners laugh, blush, heal, and rethink everything they were taught about love, shame, and who they’re allowed to become. In this electric and tender conversation, Dr. Candace Manitopyes connects with with Dr. Tenille K. Campbell, a Dene, Métis, poet, photographer, PhD holder, auntie, and unapologetic storyteller whose work has cracked open space for Indigenous women, femmes, and queer folks to reclaim desire without shame. Tenille shares the raw, often hilarious journey that shaped her groundbreaking book #IndianLovePoems: on heartbreak, sex, vanilla surprises, 12-hour dates, threesome confessions, and the slow, sacred unlearning of colonial purity culture. Tenille and Candace trace how healing pleasure ripples outward into parenting, intergenerational cycles, and the ways daughters, nieces, and femme relatives now move through the world with softness, boundaries, and emotional fluency their Ancestors could only dream of. They speak about queerness as ancient, relational, and culturally rooted; something that has always existed in our stories, despite colonial attempts to suppress it. And through humour, honesty, and unmistakable auntie energy, they remind listeners that choosing self-respect is lineage work, reclamation, and love. - Relentless Actions 1. Take out a journal and name one belief you were taught—by family, religion, school, or society about sex, pleasure, gender, or self-worth. Then rewrite it in your own words, from your own truth. Let it become a declaration of who you are now, not who you were told to be. 2. Practice one act of softness that you were once taught to fear. This could be resting without guilt, saying no without apology, taking a sensual photograph for your own eyes, or letting someone care for you without shrinking. Choose something small but real, and signals to your nervous system that safety and pleasure are allowed. Relentless Refections 1. What parts of my intimacy—emotional, relational, or erotic—are still shaped by someone else’s fear, and what would it mean to return those fears to their origin? 2. Who am I becoming as I choose myself more often? When I say yes to my truth, my boundaries, my pleasure, my softness, who do I turn into? And how does that person change the lineage behind me and the future ahead of me? Relentless Resources 1. #IndianLovePoems by Dr Tenillie Campbell, book 2. Stolen From Our Bodies: First Nations Two-Spirits/Queers and the Journey to a Sovereign Erotic by Qwo-Li Driskill, an academic article Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat
January 10 · 52 min
Ep. 46: Navigating Between Community and Colonial Systems with Minister Mandy Gull-Masty
In this moving episode, Dr. Candace Manitopyes has a conversation with Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, the first Indigenous person to ever serve as Canada’s Minister of Indigenous Services, and a woman whose leadership was forged in lived experience, sharpened through education, and guided by a heart rooted in community. What unfolds is an intimate, honest, and generous exchange between two Cree women reflecting on responsibility, belonging, exhaustion, joy, and the heavy yoke carried by those who are “the first.” Minister Mandy shares how becoming a mother at a young age shaped her sense of duty, how stepping into federal politics required a profound shift in lens, and how being the first comes with loneliness, scrutiny, and an unspoken pressure to set the tone for everyone who will follow. She speaks with remarkable tenderness about grounding practices: beading, time on the land, a supportive husband who calls her back to rest, and children who remind her she is still just mom when she walks through the door. Their conversation moves into the emotional terrain most people never see: queer kin who are forced from home, the harm of exclusion, the spiritual sensitivity of young people, and the courage required to transform systems from within. It is a conversation about what it means to lead without losing yourself. - Relentless Actions 1. Take 10 minutes this week to unplug completely. Step outside, breathe, and let your nervous system settle without your phone nearby. 2. Reach out to one Indigenous leader, creator, or community member you admire and send them a note of gratitude for the work they do. Relentless Reflections 1. Where in my life am I being called to lead with more grace, even when I feel unseen or overwhelmed? 2. What parts of my identity have I outgrown, and what new parts am I finally ready to claim? Relentless Resources 1. First Nations Leadership Philosophies: A Systematic Review of Recent Academic Literature Book 2. Restorying Indigenous Leadership, article Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions! Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW Website Music Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat