Shayla Stonechild

Shayla Stonechild is the founder of Matriarch Movement, an online platform that brings together social media narratives, interviews, wellness sessions, blogs, and a video podcast on Indigenous stories, experiences, and struggles. Shayla resolves to chart a new course in the way mainstream media presents Indigenous dialogue, which she aims to achieve by connecting with the Indigenous peoples and engaging and educating the non-Indigenous communities.

Shayla identifies as a Mètis and Nehiyaw Iskwew from Muscowpetung First Nations and has always centered her work on vocalizing the Indigenous narrative, and in particular, that of the Indigenous youth and the women. In the video podcasts, Shayla interviews Indigenous women and two-spirit people in an effort to explore their perspectives and empathize with their trials and tribulations. The blogs offer unique memoirs of the Indigenous peoples as they focus on wellness and healing to become “visible”. Matriarch Movement touches on important subjects such as language revitalization, reclamation, matriarchy, and sustainability among others, and functions as an educational tool for deepening our understanding of the Indigenous identity.

Shayla is a co-host on “Red Earth Uncovered”, a popular APTN docuseries that explores the connection between archaeological findings and ancient Indigenous legends. She earned the title of “Metis Youth Ambassador of Alberta” and was also the first Indigenous woman to be featured on the cover of Yoga Journal.