I grew up in the beautiful valley of Fort Qu' Appelle, Saskatchewan, in the Treaty 4 territory.  I love the valley, as it is so calm and serene and I have wonderful memories of walking up the hills, bike riding around the lake, sleigh riding, and picking berries.  I was the youngest, raised by my mom, sisters and my loving grandmother (kokum).  A big part of our culture is that we love to laugh and share stories, however, we hardly  ever heard the words "I Love You".  If we were loved, we were fed really good and we were expected to eat everything that was served.  So, for years, I sought love outside of me, to where I dropped to my kitchen floor crying and not wanting to live anymore, because I felt so unloved.

Long before this picture was taken, I had attended a women's day event at that location, where I was seeking some kind of hope to get me through my challenges.  I envisioned being able to speak on that stage, and it came true!  So, envision how you can share your story to help others!  You are worthy of being heard and respected.