Keynote Speakers:
Johnson Archie, MC & Speaker
Johnson Archie is a Secwépemc and Ken-i-am Shuswap elder from Tsq’éscen, Canim Lake, BC, of the Northern Interior Salish Nation.
A retired senior high school teacher, he brings deep wisdom shaped by personal history, cultural knowledge, and lived experience.
A former student of St. Joseph’s Residential Mission, Johnson carries the stories of his family and ancestors with him, including his parents Joseph and Dora Archie, and his grandparents Alec and Eliza Archie, and Steven and Francois Daniels.
His talk explores the history of humanity on Earth through both written history and oral tradition, touching on ancient civilizations, the Pacific Ring of Fire, North America, Indigenous peoples, and his personal journey into Inner Earth.
Irene Charley, Speaker
Secwepemc/ Culture (Ileqmelten (teacher) Weytk ren skwekest Irene Charley Te Esk'ét re st'ekwen * Language Introduction * introduction of self to others/elders
*Re stseptékwlls le q7es te qelmúcw tskwenstém ey. We are still telling the legends of our ancestors to the children.
* From the stories getting children to draw Pictures of part of the stseptkell (legends)
* Teaching crafting as beading, pumin and Pumeke7, including what drum represents, medicine pouches & it's purpose, dream catchers borrowed from the Eastern tribes, meaning of that.
* Teaching sllekmewews (lahal) and the songs. And including the history of our Secwepemc using the board & rhythm sticks, to replace the drums that were forbidden to be used - drumming & singing women & men warrior songs, Seewépemc welcome song.
* History of Secwepemc travel modes, using canoes, the trust is leaving that docked. Borrowing was common & returned in good shape. - history of storing foods/ meats/ fish/ berries - e7istkten - underground homes Citpeenten -
* Teaching traditional dance of women & Bring in a male for male traditional style T'ey powwow dance. * alphabet sounds, clothing, animals - sitq't (days) of the week, megcen (months) including the activities of our Secwepemc gelmuc did, weather, seasons. Yiri7 m tsukes (that's everything)
Mike Archie, Opening Speaker
Mike Archie, former Canim Lake Band chief, has dedicated himself to preserving his culture and language for future generations, and prioritizes giving back to the people.
His adventures began early - he was born in 1958, nearly on the side of the road as the family car broke down - his father made a fire in the middle of the road to stop the next vehicle and was passing by and thankfully, was birthed in Williams Lake Hospital. He was raised by his mother and grandmother, when his father joined the Spirit world 9 months after his birth. From that time forward, he faced many challenges - think brutally cold winters with no power or water to homes in his community, and observing his mother working hard to provide - though he found his way by spending a lot of time with Canim Lake’s elders and veterans, listening to their stories and gleaning knowledge and wisdom. Ultimately, these formative years produced a man that faced consequences from life choices and the self-awareness to propel him forward to show up in service to others.
Mike will be opening the event for us, leaning on everything he has learned throughout his life, and sharing perspective curated from said experiences. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to hear his deeply authentic, real-life talk: First People’s Lense On the Land.
Kelly Redgrove, Speaker
My name is Kelly Redgrove
I have recently returned to the Cariboo Region and have been wanting to do some public speaking for a long time.
Conversations With Kelly could be on any subject. I am a deeply concerned citizen of the world and this very first talk will weave the past and the present together in a personal story. It touches on issues related to MMIWG2S people and how that relates to many of our lives.
Thank you.
Gerald Charley, Speaker
One thing you need to know about qelmuc families is that we’re all raised to be close to one another.
Our first cousins aren’t our cousins, they’re our brothers and sisters...so even though we’re not “ immediate family “ that’s not how we see it... that’s why many people get so confused and end up asking us “So how many siblings do you have?“
We are all taught to love one another as part of immediate family and take care of each other.
When we lose a family member it’s hard on all of us...too many people lack compassion for our qelmuc strong family bonds.
Rick M - Speaker
Speaking on Sobriety
Val P & Barb M
Al-Anon
Friends & Family of Alcoholics
Cecilia de Groot, Speaker, Organizer
Greetings, I am so grateful to have you join us at this beautiful event - Stories from the Heart. An inspiration from John Archie who approached me to take on this monumental task of sharing the voice of many amazing, wise and soul-led speakers.
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I have been through a lot in my life, and so, I am sharing with you my talk, "The Miraculous Is Calling". The vision for my topic is all about leaning into faith over fear, how I have co-created my experiences, and that everything is a Miracle.
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Kirstin Arthur, Speaker
As the creatrix of lotus.b.free Holistic Wellness, I am devoted to creating experiences that bring people back to their truth. Through intentional products and soul-centered services, I support others in cultivating authentic connections—with themselves, their community, and the natural world. My mission is to inspire reciprocal relationships that empower healing, belonging, and collective growth.
Through my lived experience and navigating challenging systems, I’ve come to understand it wasn’t the systems that held me, it was community and Mother Earth.
My story reflects how connection can carry us, shape us, and guide us back to ourselves.
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