Tonya Robitaille

Wellness Worker, Community Herbalist - Interior Region

My traditional name is bizaan bimose, my English name is Tonya. I am a person of mixed ancestry with kinship ties to Metis, Secwepemc, and Ktunaxa Nations. My grandmothers attended St.Eugene Residential School, and I am grateful to work with IRSSS today in honour of their memories and teachings.

 I currently live as a guest on the beautiful unceded territories of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. I am a proud mother and grandmother, and my family continues to grow! I am a Wellness Worker and Community Herbalist and love to gather and share good medicines in my travels. I enjoy sharing ceremony and teachings about healing plant medicines and I am always learning.

In previous roles, I was support for IDS survivors during the federal class action, and have a long career of working with non profit organizations and health authorities to advocate for cultural safety, access to Elders and Healers, spiritual care, and traditional medicines. In past, I’ve been gifted the opportunity to travel the country and share with communities about medicines and healing, and I have a wealth of lived experience on my own healing journey. I am grateful for my ancestors, teachers, and helpers along the way, and honoured to be here.