About me:

Hi, I’m Vanessa—a proud Cree (Nehiyawk) woman from Duncan’s First Nation in Northern Alberta. I was raised by my grandparents on our small reserve, a place deeply tied to my family’s legacy. My great-great-grandfather, Duncan Testawich, was a headman who signed Treaty 8 at Peace River Crossing. That history carries weight, and it’s something I carry with pride and responsibility.

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Growing up in a community of just over 100 people, I witnessed both the strength and struggles of our Nation. As the Indian Act changed, more people reclaimed their status, and everything shifted—resources became limited, and families like mine were pushed aside.

 

Still, I was raised to believe I had a role in our Nation’s future - they told the youth to get an education to lead and that we were the future. By 16, I knew I wanted to lead—not for power, but to challenge stereotypes and create space for truth, strength, and love.

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I earned a Business Certificate and later ran for a position of  Council in 2013, hoping to bring transparency and accountability. But speaking openly—especially about issues like violence and inequality—came with a cost. My honesty and ties to past leadership (Testawich last name) made me a target. After years of exclusion and hardship, I made the difficult decision to walk away. There were no opportunities for my family and my children. 

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So, my husband and I packed up everything—our boys, two cats, our pug—and moved 16 hours south to the Lower Mainland with no plan, just trust in creator. And somehow, it worked out. We found a new beginning.

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Now, I’m pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. My kids are thriving, and I continue to hold space for truth, healing, and community.

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Rez Woman is where I share my journey—my culture, my struggles, and my healing. It’s a space to honour the matriarchs who raised me, the Nation that shaped me, and the next generation I walk beside. Through these stories, I’m reclaiming what colonization tried to take—and making room for others to do the same. This is my time for truth and healing.