A Stó:lō Women’s Movement

Our Story

Life givers of our nation.

Become a Member

Xólhmet mekw’ewát it kwelá

Weaving the story of the Stó:lō Nation.

Stolo Womens Community BC Canada

At our inaugural gathering in September of 2018, we were encouraged by Rena Point Bolton, an original member of the Indian Homemakers Association, to pick up where they had left off, reminding us that they hadn’t worked as hard as they did for us to let it all go. “You’ve got what you need, so get back to it,” Rena told us. She was right of course, we had all that we needed and it was our honour to continue the work of our Matriarchs. 

The message we received from our speakers and each other at this inaugural event was clear: Stó:lō womxn want to be organised and to bring forth our old ways. We acknowledged ourselves— Daughters, Sisters, Mothers, Grandmothers, and Aunties—as the strength of our families and communities, and as such, we acknowledge our rightful place in upholding the rights of our people. In 2021, Thélá:ylexw awtxw Foundation—a name given to us by the language speakers Ethel Gardner and Wendy Ritchie—was officially registered as a non-profit organisation with the intention of meeting these self-identified needs of Stó:lō womxn. 

We are the Life Givers of our Nation and the weavers of our social fabric. Through our community events, we connect with ourselves, our customs and our ancestors; we celebrate our culture as Stó:lō womxn; and we collaborate with one another to weave a strong social fabric for our Nation through advocacy for positive social change.

Become a Member

Xólhmet Mekw’ewát It Kwelát

Our ancestral lands.

As “People of the River” our ancestral home extends along the Fraser River to the Fraser Canyon, from approximately Qw’ó:ntl’an (Kwantlen)to (Yale) in the Fraser Valley. Stó:lō people have lived on this land for 10,000 years. As the first inhabitants, many of our traditions and heritage are connected to these lands. It is our home and we are its caretakers.

Our Vision

Xwelmexwelh Tó:lmel

Sharing Our History, Writing Our Future

Our Mothers and Grandmothers before us have worked hard to preserve our culture and language. 

Thélá:ylexw awtxw Foundation exists to continue the work of the Matriarchs before us, build new momentum by providing opportunities for Stó:lō womxn to gather so we may share our knowledge and good work with one another, to uphold our traditions and our language.  By doing this, we continue the fight against the negative impacts of colonisation, and bring prosperity back to our families and communities.  In order to take care of our people, we must also take care of ourselves. Too often, we leave this work on the back burner – until we are burnt out.  That is the other half of our mission—to provide space for Stó:lō womxn to gather in community and offer support and nurturing.

Become a Member
About Community Stolo Indigenous Women Group Support

Together We Thrive

Xólhmet mekw’ewát it kwelá

Stolo Womens Group Indigenous Leaders Social Change

Caring for ourselves, caring for our community.

Taking care of ourselves—our physical, emotional and spiritual needs—allows us to take on our roles as Life Givers in our community. As Aunties, Mothers and Grandmothers, taking care of our people is what we do, but we can only give what we have. Taking care of ourselves, takes care of others. This community exists to support one another. When we band together, we are able to accomplish even more than what any one of us can do on our own. From creating social change that positively affects our people, to preserving our traditions and heritage, together is how we thrive.

Our Staff

Máqwelhót – Leslie Bonshor

Leslie is one of the founding members of Thélá:lexw awtxw and the board’s chairperson. She is from Stó:lō Nation, specifically the Ch’íyáqtel community, as well as the Nooksack Indian Tribe. She is a Grandmother, Mother, Auntie, Sister and friend; she was taught early on that womxn are the heartbeat of our Nation, and the strength of the culture and community. The womxn hold the responsibility to learn and teach the ones that are following in their footsteps. Leslie continues to advocate for Indigenous womxn’s voices to be included in all discussions and decisions that affect our families and communities. She looks for every opportunity to empower and encourage womxn to take their rightful place at the table – while Thélá:lexw awtxw sets our own table to continue the work laid out by the Indian Homemakers Association and the Stó:lō women before us.

Xwiyalemot – Joanne Hugh

Ey swayel. Good day. My name is Joanne Hugh and my ancestral name is Xwiyalemot. I am from Sto:lo, Chawathil from my Dad’s side and Moose Cree Band in Ontario from my Mom’s side. I am the new Program Manager at Thela:ylexw Awtxw Sto:lo House of Life Givers. I believe whole heartedly that the women are the heart centered leaders of our families and communities such as the ancestral story of matriarchy in our ancient story of Lhilheqay, known as Mount Cheam. I have been happily married to my husband Craig for thirty years. I have two sons who married beautiful matriarchs from Sts’ailes. I have two granddaughters and one grandson. I live in Agassiz BC. I am currently taking classes for my Social Work at University of the Fraser Valley. I am here to listen to you, our members of what is needed to help strengthen and support our Sto:lo women and girls in any way we can and follow the heart you have for our next 7 generations coming behind. O siyam.