How We Came To Be


In 2015, a collective of Indigenous women came together to solve the ongoing systemic, multi-generational trauma in their communities.

With decades of experience working with thousands of women and girls, this group of Clan Mothers set out to build a village to create healing through collaboration and understanding. As an outcropping of that vision, an Indigenous-led solution – Clan Mothers Healing Village – came to life.

Co-Founders

ELDER MAE LOUISE CAMPBELL, JAMIE GOULET AND ELDER BELINDA VANDENBROECK

The dynamic mother-daughter duo, Elder Mae Louise and Jamie ran Grandmother Moon Lodge for almost 18 years. Elder Belinda Vandenbroeck was a constant educator and healer at the lodge through those 18 years. Since that time, they helped thousands of women and girls deal with a wide array of issues related to the multi-generational trauma that they have faced.

As time went on, and as the issues that the Lodge faced became even more complex, they understood that a larger facility was needed and designed to provide them with the ability to respond to the community’s growing needs.

They initiated and developed a larger vision for the Village Project – a vision that now has become Clan Mothers Healing Village and Knowledge Centre.

Clan Mothers Elder’s Council

As the project has grown, so too have the demands on the people involved. Clan Mothers has therefore created an Elder’s Council to honour the vision of the original peoples of this land and to help the Healing Village come to fruition. In addition to the co-founders, the Elder’s Council includes the following individuals:

ELDER MAE LOUISE CAMPBELL, OJIBWA, SAULTEAUX; METIS, ISHKOTE ODEIMA IKWE (CO-FOUNDER OF CLAN MOTHERS HEALING VILLAGE)

Elder Mae Louise has taught and supported people in a variety of circumstances, from post-secondary educators, students, health workers, and administrators, to women leaving prisons, to individuals suffering from addiction and beyond. For more than 18 years, she was the Keeper of Grandmother Moon Lodge, a healing lodge in rural Manitoba that served thousands of Indigenous women across Canada. For sixteen years,  she was the Elder in Residence at Red River College. She currently sits on the Mayor of Winnipeg’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, the Elder for University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Social Work and was also the recipient of the National 2016 Indspire Laureate. Elder Mae Louise is now with Mount Carmel Clinic and working with the community there.

ELDER BELINDA VANDENBROECK, ININIW; SOKI KAPIKISKWET OSAWI OMISIW (CO-FOUNDER OF CLAN MOTHERS HEALING VILLAGE)

Elder Belinda VandenBroeck was involved in starting up and operating an Indigenous organization that helps children who are victims of violence and have witnessed family violence, often perpetrated against their own mothers. She is committed to de-colonizing the Spirit through her on-going teaching.

ELDER LEVINA BROWN, INUIT

Elder Levina Brown was appointed first Inuk female Minister of Health and Social Services of Rankin Inlet. She has an extensive background in politics and the medical profession. The spiritual values of her people are a priority in all that she does.

UNCI BEVERLY LITTLE THUNDER, LAKOTA; STANDING ROCK

Unci Beverly Little Thunder is the operator of the Healing Retreat Centre Kunsi Keya Tamakoce for Indigenous women in Vermont, USA. In addition, she hosts teaching seminars and speaks at university campuses across the country. She is also an advocate for social change and activism around Indigenous women’s issues.

ELDER VERNA IRONSTAR, NAKODA

Elder Verna Ironstar has dedicated her life to children, working for over 35 years in child protection at Awasis of Northern Manitoba. She is a grandmother to many and always leading her people forward in finding a brighter future for the next generation.

ELDER BILLIE SCHIBLER,  METIS

Elder Billie Schibler is a Metis woman, a mother, a Kookum and the Chief Executive Officer of the Metis Child and Family Services Authority, a position she has held since 2012.

She also is known as Purple Harvest Woman, is a traditional Indigenous woman and one of the founding members of Manitoba’s Grandmothers Protecting Our Children Council. She is a member of the World Council of Elders, a member of the Grandmothers Circle the Earth Council, and has met with and supported the development of Grandmother Councils around the world.