June marks National Indigenous History Month in Canada, and to honour the occasion, we wanted to spotlight conversations from The Discovery Pod. Below you’ll find interviews with three Indigenous leaders who are challenging, inspiring, and guiding the social profit sector: our past podcast guests, Rowena Veylan of The New School of Fundraising, Phyllis Webstad of the Orange Shirt Society, and Bruce Miller of the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund.
Though each guest offers unique insights grounded in different areas of work—fundraising, education, and philanthropy—they are united by a shared call for intentional action, authentic relationships, and trust-based systems change. These episodes offer powerful insights for anyone looking to deepen their personal commitment to reconciliation and collective progress.
Decolonizing Fundraising with Rowena Veylan, The New School of Fundraising
Rowena Veylan is reshaping how we learn and lead in the fundraising sector by putting Indigenous protocols, values-based approaches, and relational learning at the forefront. As an Indigenous fundraiser herself, Rowena founded The New School of Fundraising to create a space where learning happens through dialogue, reflection, and intentionality—not rigid rules.
She emphasizes the importance of leading with curiosity, embracing mistakes as part of growth, and creating spaces for Indigenous learners to thrive. Her Indigenous Protocols for Fundraisers workshop is helping nonprofits shift from fear to action. This episode is essential for fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and anyone looking to align their practices with reconciliation and equity.
The Power of Personal Storytelling with Phyllis Webstad, Orange Shirt Society
Phyllis Webstad’s deeply personal story became the catalyst for Orange Shirt Day, now recognized annually as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Through her leadership of the Orange Shirt Society, Phyllis has created a movement grounded in remembrance, education, and healing.
She shares how the initiative began in a small BC community and grew into a national day of awareness, and she reflects on the continued need for education, empathy, and action. She also highlights the role of merchandise sales and storytelling to fund and sustain grassroots work.
Trust-Based Philanthropy and the Reconciliation Economy with Bruce Miller, Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund
Bruce Miller brings a powerful lens to the philanthropic world: one grounded in Indigenous values, cultural safety, and financial justice. At the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund, he’s helping shift philanthropy from symbolic recognition to economic redress.
Bruce explores how healing, trust, and community-led decision-making are key to long-term resilience. He introduces the concept of a “reconciliation economy” and challenges funders to move from listening to acting—sharing power, resources, and networks in tangible ways. This episode is a must-listen for funders, investors, and social sector leaders ready to transform systems and redistribute power.
Across these conversations, a common thread emerges: reconciliation is not a single event or statement—it’s an ongoing commitment to learn, unlearn, and act. Whether through ethical fundraising, education, or community-directed funding, each guest shows how change happens when we lead with humility, center Indigenous voices, and build relationships rooted in trust.
Curious to hear more? Download and subscribe to The Discovery Pod on your favourite podcast platforms:
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