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

“The more of these relationships that we have, the healthier that we are, the healthier that our environment is.” — Joe Pitawanakwat What changes when we begin to see the plants around us as friends—each with gifts to share and each deserving of our care? In this episode of Rekindling the Fire, host Rachel Robinson welcomes Joe Pitawanakwat, founder of Creator’s Garden, for a conversation about plant medicines, Anishinaabe knowledge and the relationships that nourish physical and mental wellne

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 fo

“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

“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 refle

“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

“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