Kelly is a descendant of immigrant families from Germany and France and grew up on a third generation family farm in Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan where she learned an appreciation of the lands and the value of family and community. As a longtime leader in PowHERhouse, she is grateful to learn from Indigenous ancestral knowledge. She is in the beginning days of bringing forward her own ancestral story and is thankful for the path forward illuminated by her Indigenous circle of guides in the house. Kelly calls Kipling, Saskatchewan her home where she has raised two young adults, both leaders in their own rights, on Treaty 4 Territory, the traditional lands of the nêhiyawak (Cree), Anihšināpēk (Saulteaux), Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda, and the homeland of the Métis/Michif Nation.

 

Kelly has been blessed to spend a portion of her career in partnership, learning from members of the Indigenous community and entrusted with passing along knowledge through education to 2500+ individuals in healthcare.  This teaching was purposeful in creating an understanding about myths, misconceptions and history of our Indigenous Peoples to create an understanding and empathy of others to improve working relationships, employment and service provision.