Grandmothers & Grandfathers Speak from the Heart of the Mother

Grandmothers & Grandfathers Speak from the Heart of the Mother

Presented by Grandmother’s Voice

Each week, Grandmothers and Grandfathers Speak from the Heart of the Mother invites viewers into a sacred circle of story, song, and teaching led by respected Elders and Knowledge Keepers from across Turtle Island and beyond.

Hosted by Jody Harbour, Co-Founder of Grandmother’s Voice, the series offers a living bridge between ancestral wisdom and contemporary life — reminding us that healing, unity, and reconnection with Creation are the pathways to a more balanced world.

About the Series

What began as an online gathering during a time of isolation has become an international community of learning, reflection, and ceremony. Each week, Elders share teachings that speak to the heart — addressing personal healing, collective responsibility, and the spiritual relationships that bind all peoples to the Earth.

The livestream is more than a broadcast. It is a ceremony in motion — a virtual fire where all are welcome to sit, listen, and remember. Through stories, laughter, and truth, the Grandmothers and Grandfathers remind us who we are as spiritual beings walking gently on the land.

Purpose and Vision

The series aligns with Grandmother’s Voice’s mission to amplify Indigenous leadership and intergenerational healing through education, storytelling, and land-based practice. It builds cross-cultural understanding and creates space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to learn together in good relations.

Themes explored include:

• The sacred responsibilities of land and water
• Ancestral knowledge and natural law
• Healing intergenerational trauma through ceremony
• Reconciliation rooted in love and accountability
• The role of Elders in guiding community wellness

November 24, 2025 | 9:00 PM EST (Online)
Featuring: Mary Sue Robinet and Tony Smigiel
📍 Watch live on Facebook & YouTube @GrandmothersVoice
In relationship with the River Sidon Peace Project

About the Event

This week, Grandmothers and Grandfathers Speak from the Heart of the Mother welcomes Mary Sue Robinet and Tony Smigiel, two community leaders and teachers whose lives embody cultural strength, service, and deep spiritual commitment to the healing of all peoples.

Their paths cross through ceremony, compassion, and dedication — Mary Sue as a social service worker, ceremony conductor, and cultural guide walking with humility and heart; Tony as a fire keeper, circle holder, and community builder rooted in kinship and service. Together, they remind us that healing is both personal and collective — a journey walked in relationship with one another and with the Earth.

About Mary Sue Robinet

Registered Social Service Worker | Ceremony Conductor | Cultural Teacher

Mary Sue Robinet (RSSW) is a Registered Social Service Worker based in the Durham Region and a proud graduate of the Red Road to Sobriety program. Her work in resource coordination, case management, and skills development reflects a heart-centered approach grounded in Indigenous teachings and lived experience.

As a ceremony conductor and cultural teacher, Mary Sue sits with Indigenous Grandmothers, supporting self-healing and community transformation through traditional practice. Her path is one of compassion, humility, and cultural reclamation — bringing balance, safety, and belonging to every circle she enters.

About Tony Smigiel

Fire Keeper | Circle Holder | Community Builder

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Tony Smigiel carries Chibchan/Muisca, Yuca Mayan, Costa Rican Indigenous, African, and Spanish ancestry. He serves as a Fire Keeper for the Anishinaabe Thunderbird Sundance of Ontario in Sarnia and sits on the board of the River Sidon Peace and Justice Project alongside Grandmother Susan Lyons.

Tony is the President of the Native Art Guild in Detroit and a circle holder for the Grandmothers Lodge Council. He also maintains an online red path community through the Aki-Ishkode Ogichidaa Circle on Facebook. Beyond ceremony, he is a national-level fastpitch softball coach and mentor for young women athletes. Above all, he is a proud father, husband, son, brother, cousin, friend, and relative to all — walking in service, humility, and love.

Join Us in Circle

🗓️ Monday, November 24, 2025
⏰ 9:00 PM EST
📍 Streaming Live on Facebook and YouTube @GrandmothersVoice
🔗 For more information about Grandmother’s Voice visit grandmothersvoice.com
🔗 For more information about the River Sidon Peace Project visit riversidon.org

Come sit in circle with us as we listen, learn, and remember together.
All are welcome in this space of heart, healing, and truth.