Woven Spirit | Podcast Episode 4
Episode Four: Healing and Leadership with Shirley David
In this compelling episode of Woven Spirit: Threads of Wisdom, host Teka Desjarlais sits down with Shirley David, who bravely shares her profound and moving journey through the trials of attending residential school and transitioning through the foster care system. Shirley opens up about being apprehended and her experiences of separation from her family at the tender age of five—a journey marked by resilience, survival, and ultimately, leadership in healing and education.
Featuring Guest Shirley David, MSW
‘Bluejay Woman’ (Spirit name), Gitxsan & Witset First Nations
“When we get pass the darkness, our journey to recovery and healing become a little easier”
Shirley is an Indigenous Therapist from Gitxsan/Wit set First Nation, who was raised in Secwepemc Territory where she currently lives and works. She graduated with a Master of Indigenous Social Work (MISW) and Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work (BISW). She has also obtained an Addictions Counsellor Certificate, Aboriginal Life Skills Facilitator Certificate, and Aboriginal Trauma Certificate, and has completed supplementary Trauma courses/programs from the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Shirley has over 50 years of professional and traditional /cultural knowledge, not only from the western teachings, but also from Spiritual and Cultural Teachers and Elders. She is qualified and experienced in both Traditional Indigenous based teachings and western based teachings.
Shirley is has worked with the Indian Residential School Survivors Society for the past 17 years and is currently working as a RHSW / Indigenous Therapist.
Together, Teka and Shirley talk about the impacts of these formative experiences, discussing the trauma of those times, the stories of cultural disconnection, and the paths back to cultural reclamation and self-understanding. Through Shirley’s tale of enduring hardship, listeners are invited into a narrative of perseverance against system racism, highlighting the importance of education, storytelling, and cultural reconnection as tools for healing.
This episode also explores how intergenerational relationships, and the rediscovery of cultural practices can strengthen and rejuvenate communities. Shirley, now a therapist and advocate, uses her platform to educate others and serve as a voice for those still grappling with their past.
Tune in to learn from Shirley's inspiring journey and discover the role of ancestral wisdom and education in healing personal and collective wounds. This episode provides not only a dialogue of experience but also ideas on moving forward and fostering understanding across generations. Don't miss the powerful story of a woman who turned her past into a catalyst for positive change and community restoration.
If you’re affected by the stories shared, please contact our available crisis line. Support is available 24/7 at 1-800-721-0066.
This project was undertaken with the financial support of Parks Canada / Ce projet a été réalisé avec l'appui financier de Parcs Canada.