Dr. Candace Linklater sits down with renowned Métis artist Christi Belcourt, whose work bridges ancestral knowledge, land-based resistance, and decolonial imagination. Candace introduces Christi as one of the most iconic Indigenous artists of our time, celebrated worldwide for paintings that echo traditional beadwork and speak to Indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, and cultural survival. They discuss how Christi’s art serves as both a love letter to Indigenous futurity and a bold c...
Dr. Candace Linklater speaks with Vanessa Brousseau, also known as Resilient Inuk, an Inuk multidisciplinary artist and advocate whose art and activism are deeply rooted in personal and intergenerational loss. Vanessa shares the painful yet powerful story of her grandfather’s forced displacement and medical experimentation by the Canadian government, her sister’s disappearance in 2003, and her mother’s death due to medical racism. These experiences fuel her advocacy for MMIWG2S+ and her passi...
This conversation with Drezus (Jeremiah Manitopyes) gets real. He takes us through his journey—from rising in the Indigenous hip hop scene to reclaiming his power through sobriety, fatherhood, and ceremony. Raised in the city but spiritually rooted in his culture, Drezus shares how reconnecting with the Land and working with youth has become his deepest source of inspiration. Whether he’s jumping into rivers with his kids or sitting by the fire in remote Cree communities, he paints a picture ...
Dr. Candace Linklater and guest Nikki Apostolou (aka Recycled Stardust) delve into the meaning of living with integrity, community engagement, and staying rooted in love amidst heartbreak, colonization, and online violence. Nikki opens up about how painful it’s been to have her character misrepresented, especially in online spaces where false narratives spread quickly and people rush to judgment. She shares the grief of being pushed into silence to protect others, the toll of being dehumanize...
In this warm, wise, and wildly relatable episode, Dr. Candace Linklater and Dr. Tasha Spillett dive deep into what it means to mother, mourn, and move through the world as Indigenous women. It’s part heart talk, part medicine, as they unpack everything from generational grief to gentle parenting, from cultural reconnection to the quiet rebellions of everyday love. Dr. Tasha opens up about how motherhood pulled her closer to her Cree roots, while Dr. Candace reflects on queer Indigenous identi...
In this heart-expanding chat, Dr. Candace Linklater sits down in person with Waneek Horn-Miller—Mohawk Olympian, activist, and one of the most influential Indigenous women in sport—for a conversation that is as vulnerable as it is visionary. They explore the complicated beauty of Indigenous rage, healing, and authenticity in a world that constantly tries to box Indigenous women in. Waneek reflects on surviving a near-fatal stabbing during the Oka Crisis at age 14 and how that trauma shaped he...
Dr. Candace has some deep convos with Chance Paupanakis, a proud Swampy Cree and Two-Spirit advocate from Kinosew Sipi Cree Nation. Raised in both Indigenous and colonial worlds, Chance shares what it means to come into identity while carrying the weight of silence, shame, and survival—and how they’ve chosen to root instead in language, ceremony, and community. Their conversation moves through themes that cut deep: the erasure of Two-Spirit roles, the harm of conditional allyship, and the ong...
In this episode, Dr. Candace Linklater sits with Lindsay King, an Indigenous fashion designer from the Salto Ojibwe and Mohawk Nations, whose journey from social work to fashion is rooted in healing, advocacy, and community care. After working as a social worker and foster parent for 20 years, Lindsay began designing in 2014—without any sewing experience—and went on to study fashion in Toronto and Florence before launching her brand in 2022. Their conversation explores how Lindsay’s work is i...
This episode goes deep. Dr. Candace sits down with Andre Bear, a Two-Spirit Nehiyaw Plains Cree educator and legal scholar who’s been using social media to make conversations about Indigenous rights and sovereignty feel both accessible and deeply personal. They explore Andre’s powerful journey—from growing up in foster care to reconnecting with ceremony—and how those experiences continue to shape his fierce advocacy for Indigenous children and youth. Andre shares the story behind carrying a C...
This podcast episode is a deeply candid conversation between two Indigenous women who hold space for each other in a way that’s both tender and powerful. Anna Lambe—Inuk actress from Iqaluit and the breakout star of North of North—joins Dr. Candace Linklater for an intimate dialogue that weaves together personal stories, professional reflections, and shared truths from the front lines of Indigenous visibility. Anna opens up about the realities of navigating the entertainment industry as a you...
In an unfiltered conversation, Jayli Wolf and I demolish the toxic religious trauma from our Jehovah's Witness and evangelical backgrounds. We expose how these belief systems systematically stripped us of autonomy, sexuality, and indigenous spiritual connections, leaving behind a toxic landscape of shame, fear, and suppressed rage. From forced door-to-door preaching to suffocating purity culture, we unpack how these institutions control and silence young women, especially those who are queer ...
In this raw and real podcast episode, Jeremy Dutcher drops truth bombs about Indigenous language revitalization, Two-Spirit identity, and cultural resilience. He shares his journey of recovering Ancestral recordings, transforming colonial archives into powerful musical narratives, and creating space for indigenous joy. Dutcher embodies resistance through his music, academic work, and fierce commitment to honouring his community's linguistic and cultural roots. The conversation cuts deep into ...
This podcast episode is basically a love letter to indigenous resilience, told through the epic mother-child duo of Virginia and Scott Wabano. Scott's a queer, Two-Spirit fashion icon who went from being a tiny hoop dancer to slaying runways and challenging industry norms. His mom, Virginia, is the ultimate badass matriarch who's been his ride-or-die since day one. They dive deep into Scott's journey of self-discovery, coming out on a random highway (because why not?), and how his family's l...
In this heart-to-heart episode, Owen Unruh opens up about his journey as a Two Spirit, Indigenous person navigating addiction, shame, and the long road to self-love. From surviving in silence to thriving in his truth, Owen shares how embracing vulnerability—and using social media as a lifeline—helped him reclaim his power. He gets real about growing up queer in a religious, conservative space, and the healing that came with unlearning internalized beliefs. We talk about the joy of finally lov...
Emma Morrison is a powerhouse Indigenous woman who's breaking barriers as the first Indigenous Miss World Canada representative, preparing to compete in the Miss World finals in India on May 31st. Her Beauty with a Purpose project, "Ribbons," focuses on empowering Indigenous youth, particularly young girls, through education, cultural pride, and mentorship. She'll be representing not just Canada, but First Nations women on a global stage, carrying the hopes and spirits of her Ancestors....
In this powerful relaunch of the Relentless Indigenous Woman Podcast, Dr. Candace Linklater shares her transformative journey of completing her PhD, navigating grief, and finding profound love and resilience. Her award-nominated dissertation, inspired by the quiet strength of moss, explores creating safe spaces for Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQ+ youth, reflecting her commitment to education as an act of rebellion and compassion. With an announcement of the stellar lineup of Indi...
Join Candace (aka Relentless Indigenous Woman) in the final episode of our Two Spirit and IndigiQueer series for June as she interviews her fiancé, Alex Manitopyes, the visionary Founder and Designer of SACRD THNDR. Alex, a Two Spirit non-binary trans masc fashion designer from Muskowekwan and Peepeekisis First Nation, has captured hearts and minds with their culturally rich and contemporary accessories. Since 2023, SACRD THNDR has gained notable recognition, including a feature in Vogu...
Join Chase Campeau and Candace Linklater as they explore the often challenging realities of being Two Spirit or IndigiQueer within Indigenous communities. In this heartfelt conversation, they emphasize the importance of family, friends, and allies approaching these topics with love and compassion. Hear their personal stories about the pain of familial rejection and the reasons why many Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ individuals might turn to drugs or alcohol in their search for the love and accep...
Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Haley, an actor, model, and advocate making waves across various industries with their unapologetic confidence. Discover Haley's journey of Indigenous reconnection and the challenges of navigating life as a Cree and Filipinx Two Spirit person. We'll dive into their experiences of intersectionality, life in the spotlight, and the importance of authenticity. Plus, Haley shares one crucial insight they wish Indigenous allies knew. Don't mi...
Welcome to the first episode of our Two Spirit and IndigiQueer Pride series! We're thrilled to have Kairyn (Kai) Potts as our guest. Kai is a powerhouse—speaker, writer, actor, and advocate—who's gathered an impressive following of over 400,000 on TikTok (@ohkairyn). In this episode, we dive deep into the history and colonialism, exploring the erasure of Two Spirit and IndigiQueer identities. Kai generously shares their personal journey and their gifts as a Two Spirit individual, and ho...