I am Chantal Kyplain, also known by my nêhiyaw (Cree) name Kaskitêwi-Pihêsiw Iskwêw, which translates to Black Thunderbird Woman. I am a Cree and Métis mother, poet, storyteller, self-published author, full-spectrum doula, and Board Secretary of the Matriarch Council of the 2 Spirits in Motion Society. I work full-time as the Executive Assistant for a non-profit organization, supporting programs and initiatives that uplift Indigenous voices. I am four years sober, walking the Red Road, and my lived experience shapes the honesty, depth, and heart of my work.

I am from Île-à-la-Crosse, also known as Sakitawak, which means “where the rivers meet.” I currently live and work in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Treaty 6 land. My work is rooted in wahkôhtowin and matriarchal teachings, guided by the belief that writing is medicine, and grounded in truth, culture, and survival. Through MetaphorGirl, I turn survival into story, honour the sacredness of Indigenous womanhood, explore the ache of becoming, and celebrate the beauty of motherhood.

In 2024, I self-published 'Fragments of Her', a poetry collection exploring love, loss, and becoming, which sold internationally within two weeks of its release. My poetry has been featured in APTN’s 2024 National Indigenous Peoples History Month anthology. I have collaborated with Indigital Storytelling on a video segment for Home Away from Home, and feautured in She is Indigenous: Ready 2 Listen. I have shared my work at venues and events including Art Bar in Saskatoon, the National Métis 2Spirit Gathering in Manitoba, The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and through workshops, youth panels, and community gatherings. Notable speaking and facilitation engagements include Weaving the Circle (a youth and elder panel supporting Indigenous youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness and transiency, hosted by Oẏateki Partnership and Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership), National Addictions Awareness Week in Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, my own community poetry night in Île-à-la-Crosse, the Tansi Talks segment with the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, and Chokecherry Studios’ for Suicide Prevention Month.

I bring a strong foundation of education and professional training to my work. I have completed programs through Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (Women of the Métis Nation), the University of Alberta, Office Administration at North West College, and Addictions and Community Health at Sundance College. I am trained as a full-spectrum doula, and my practice incorporates culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and community-centered approaches.

I speak on issues I have lived experience with, including addiction, recovery, mental health, intimate partner violence, homelessness, grief and loss, and the complex journey of motherhood. Alongside my writing and full-time work, I facilitate workshops, speak at events, and support community initiatives designed to foster storytelling, healing, and cultural reconnection. I create spaces where grief, growth, resilience, and Indigenous identity can coexist, be witnessed, and be celebrated. I am committed to mentoring youth, supporting Indigenous communities, and using storytelling as a tool for healing, empowerment, and intergenerational connection.