The Matriarch Council

About The Council

The Matriarch Council brings together Indigenous matriarchs, aunties, and community leaders who carry long-standing responsibilities in their families and communities. They help 2SiMS think carefully about safety, care, and the everyday realities that Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer people, and gender-diverse relatives are facing.

This council began in 2025, following a national call for matriarchs who have been doing this work in many different ways: through ceremony, organizing, advocacy, teaching, parenting, frontline work, and quiet support at home. It exists because our members and communities asked for a space where matriarchs could guide the direction of our work in a clear and ongoing way.

Who Is Our Matriarch Council

Members of the Matriarch Council are Indigenous matriarchs from different Nations, regions, and life paths. They may be:

  • Knowledge Keepers and ceremony helpers

  • Community organizers and advocates

  • Frontline workers supporting people who face violence, poverty, or health barriers

  • Parents, aunties, kokums, and caregivers

  • Artists, educators, and language carriers

Each person brings experience from their own community and family. Together, they help 2SiMS see how our decisions affect people on the ground, especially those who often carry the weight of care work and safety planning.

What The Matriarch Council Does

  • Shares what they are seeing and hearing in their communities about safety, health, housing, and daily life for Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer people, women, girls, and gender-diverse relatives

  • Offers advice on programs that touch on gender-based violence, bodily autonomy, forced and coerced sterilization, and other areas where people are facing serious harm

  • Supports the way we design gatherings, circles, and workshops so they are caring, practical, and respectful of the responsibilities many people carry at home

  • Helps staff think through difficult situations in a way that honours our values and keeps people’s dignity at the centre

  • Works with Elders, youth, staff, and board members so that decisions at 2SiMS reflect a balance of perspectives, not just one voice

  • Their guidance helps us keep our work honest and steady, especially when we are working in areas that involve grief, loss, conflict, or risk

How The Matriarch Council Works With 2SiMS

The Matriarch Council is part of the 2SiMS governance structure. Members:

  • Take part in council meetings, planning sessions, and check-ins with staff.

  • Review plans for projects and gatherings where their insight is needed.

  • Share concerns and priorities they are hearing from families and communities.

  • Work alongside the Elders Council, Youth Council, Executive Director’s Circle, and Board of Directors when decisions affect the whole organization.

The council is not ceremonial only and not advisory only. It is a working space where matriarchs can speak clearly about what is happening in their communities and help 2SiMS respond with care and responsibility.

Becoming a Matriarch Council Member

When the Matriarch Council is seeking new members, 2SiMS will share a public call. We look for matriarchs who:

  • Have experience supporting Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer people, and gender-diverse relatives

  • Carry relationships in their communities and are trusted by those they support

  • Are willing to share honest feedback and help us improve our work

  • Can commit to regular meetings and ongoing communication with 2SiMS staff

People may apply directly or be recommended by others. All applications are reviewed with care, with respect for different teachings, Nations, and ways of leading.