Episodes

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...

“Life promotion is about picking up life—rekindling it, grounding it in kindness, balance, and the gifts we all carry.” In this episode, host Rachel Robinson sits down with Connor Lafortune—a poet, activist, and life promotion advocate from Dokis First Nation—to explore how Indigenous youth are reshaping the future of mental wellness. Connor shares his journey from aspiring law student to community-based wellness leader, grounded in culture, land and storytelling. Together, they unpack the dif...

“Language is more than words — it is life, spirit, and the medicine that brings us back to ourselves.” In this episode of Rekindling the Fire, host Rachel Robinson sits down with Opolahsomuwehs (Dr. Imelda Perley) — respected Wolastoqey Elder, language keeper, ceremonial leader, and educator — for a powerful and grounding conversation about reclaiming language, identity, and holistic wellness. Together, they explore how Indigenous language is not just a tool for communication, but a living sys...

Dr. Brenda Restoule is Ojibwe from Dokis First Nation and a registered clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience supporting First Nations communities. She is the CEO of First Peoples Wellness Circle, an Indigenous-led national organization advancing healing and wellness through culture, traditional knowledge, and Two-Eyed Seeing. Her work spans community mental wellness, addictions, crisis response, and systems leadership.

Tina Armstrong is Caribou Clan and a proud member of Bearskin Lake First Nation in Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory. She is a residential school survivor with over 35 years of experience in the social work field, working alongside grassroots community members and leadership teams in empowerment, restoration, reconciliation, and reclamation.

T’áncháy Redvers (they/them) is a Dene and Métis two-spirit storyteller, writer, and advocate from Deninu Kųę́ First Nation in the Northwest Territories. They are the co-founder of We Matter, a national Indigenous-led organization dedicated to life promotion and hope for Indigenous youth. Through public speaking, media, and community work, T’áncháy centers Indigenous joy, mental wellness, and two-spirit visibility, inspiring young people across Turtle Island and beyond.

She:kon, Aanii, Hello and welcome to Rekindling the Fire, a podcast by First Peoples Wellness Circle. Rekindling the Fire was created for and with the Indigenous mental wellness workforce, to provide support, insight, and connection around the vital work of caring for our communities. Each episode explores what it means to sustain wellness in these roles, blending cultural knowledge, lived experience, and practical tools to support healing and balance by talking with the people who are doing t...