Episode Seven: Human Trafficking News & Headlines

Episode Seven: Human Trafficking News & Headlines

Stolen Voices Episode Seven - Human Trafficking News & Headlines In this special news and headlines edition of Stolen Voices, host Nicole is joined by producer Greg to examine several recent stories shaping the conversation around human trafficking in First Nations communities. Together, they discuss the conviction of Nathan Chasinghorse and its lasting impact on Indigenous communities across Canada and the United States, the proactive efforts of the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service through Operation Buffalo, emerging concerns around cross-jurisdictional trafficking networks, and findings from recent national reports on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Peoples. Through a First Nations lens, Nicole and Greg explore the broader issues connected to human trafficking, including community safety, systemic vulnerabilities, economic development, transportation corridors, man camps, prevention, and the urgent need for Indigenous-led solutions. This episode offers listeners an opportunity to better understand how human trafficking continues to affect Indigenous communities today and why awareness, education, and collective action remain critical in the fight against exploitation.

Episode Six: A Two-Spirit Journey to Freedom, Knowledge, and Change with Kurt Blind

Episode Six: A Two-Spirit Journey to Freedom, Knowledge, and Change with Kurt Blind Episode Six of Stolen Voices features a powerful and personal conversation with Kurt Blind. Drawing from lived experience, Kurt speaks openly about surviving residential school, addiction, and his journey toward healing through culture, ceremony, community, and connection to the land. Through their work at the Calgary Drop-In and Rehabilitation Centre as a First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Cultural Liaison, Kurt shares firsthand insight into the vulnerabilities that place Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit peoples at greater risk of exploitation and human trafficking, particularly within urban centers and unhoused communities. This episode explores the intersection of colonial systems, poverty, racism, displacement, addiction, and identity, while also shining light on the importance of culturally safe spaces, Indigenous-led healing, land-based teachings, language revitalization, and community connection. Kurt speaks candidly about the ongoing impacts of systemic discrimination, the lack of safe supports for Two-Spirit and queer Indigenous peoples, and the urgent need for prevention rooted in empathy, education, and Indigenous ways of knowing. At the heart of this conversation is hope. Kurt shares powerful reflections on ancestral memory, resilience, and the responsibility we all carry to create safer communities for future generations. Through humour, honesty, compassion, and wisdom, this episode reminds listeners that healing is possible; that our spirits remember who we are, and that Indigenous voices, teachings, and lived experiences are essential in the fight against human trafficking and violence. This is a grounding, emotional, and inspiring conversation about survival, accountability, identity, and reclaiming Indigenous strength in a world that too often tries to erase it.

Episode Five: From North of 60 to National Advocacy with Tina Keeper

Stolen Voices: Episode 5 - From North of 60 to National Advocacy with Tina Keeper In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Stolen Voices, host Nicole Robertson sits down with Tina Keeper—an accomplished actor, former Member of Parliament, producer, and lifelong advocate for Indigenous communities—to explore the realities of human trafficking, MMIWG2S+, and the ongoing impact of colonial systems on Indigenous women and girls. Tina Keeper brings a lifetime of experience shaped by her upbringing in northern Manitoba, where she was raised in a close-knit Cree community. She reflects on how her early life, family, and cultural teachings grounded her identity and continue to inform her work today. From there, she shares her journey into the arts, including her nationally recognized role on the television series North of 60, which became a cultural milestone for Indigenous representation in Canadian media. Beyond her acting career, Tina discusses her transition into politics, where she served as a Member of Parliament representing a riding that included 35 First Nations communities. She offers insight into the challenges of advocating within federal systems while remaining accountable to the people she served. Her work did not stop there—through her production company, Kistikan Pictures, she continues to elevate Indigenous voices and stories, using media as a tool for truth-telling and change. The conversation dives into her involvement with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the ongoing responsibility of Canadians to confront the legacy of residential schools. Tina speaks candidly about intergenerational trauma, systemic barriers, and how these realities connect directly to the vulnerabilities that lead to exploitation and human trafficking. Nicole and Tina also explore current initiatives, including the Red Dress Alert system in Manitoba, and what meaningful action looks like when it comes to protecting Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. Throughout the episode, Tina emphasizes the importance of community-led solutions, culturally grounded healing, and creating safer spaces where Indigenous people can thrive. This episode is both a reflection and a call to action—grounded in lived experience, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Learn more about Tina Keeper and Kistikan Pictures here: https://www.tinakeeper.ca/

Episode Four: Safety Begins With Our Homefires with Josie Nepinak

Episode Four: Safety Begins With Our Homefires - With Josie Nepinak In this episode of Stolen Voices, we are joined by Josie Nepinak, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, for a powerful and deeply personal conversation on the realities of human trafficking and violence impacting Indigenous communities. Drawing from over 30 years of advocacy—and her own lived experience of loss and intergenerational trauma—Josie speaks to the urgent need for action at every level, from community to national systems. She shares how human trafficking is not a distant issue, but one that exists in everyday spaces—from schools and shopping centres to online environments—and emphasizes the importance of early intervention, awareness, and community responsibility in recognizing and responding to risk. Grounded in the idea that “safety begins with our home fires,” this episode explores how prevention starts within families, culture, and identity. Josie highlights the ongoing gaps in services, the lack of implementation of the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the need for Indigenous-led, culturally grounded solutions. From the impacts of resource extraction and systemic inequities to the importance of allyship, education, and protecting future generations, this conversation is both sobering and empowering. It calls on all of us to stay vigilant, speak out, and work collectively to ensure safety, dignity, and justice for Indigenous women, girls, and communities. Native Women’s Association of Canada: https://nwac.ca [https://nwac.ca]

Episode Three: Being Stubborn About Hope with Jacqueline Peeace & Jaiden Kuchinka of Makwa Dodem

Episode 3: Being Stubborn About Hope — with Jacqueline Peeace & Jaiden Kuchinka (Makwa Dodem) In this episode of Stolen Voices: The Fight Against Human Trafficking in First Nation Communities, host Nicole Robertson speaks with sisters Jacqueline Peeace and Jaiden Kuchinka of Makwa Dodem, a grassroots training initiative delivering culturally grounded, trauma-informed education on human trafficking. Together, they share how their work began, unpack the realities of exploitation affecting Indigenous youth, and challenge common misconceptions about trafficking in Canada. With a balance of honesty, humour, and compassion, they offer practical ways communities and families can increase awareness and safety. Rooted in sisterhood and cultural strength, this conversation is both eye-opening and empowering — a reminder that even in difficult work, we can remain stubborn about hope. Learn more about Makwa Dodem's programming here: https://ally.org/makwadodem