Angela Sterritt: Investigative Journalism, Indigenous Advocacy, and the Power of Storytelling

What does it truly mean to forgive when the systems meant to protect you have failed? In this powerful episode, I sit down with national bestselling author and award-winning journalist Angela Sterritt (Gitxsan Nation) to discuss her groundbreaking book, Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls.Angela shares her "beautiful journey" from the streets to the newsroom, redefining forgiveness as a personal act of "letting go" rather than letting abusers off the hook. We dive deep into the responsibility of being a "disruptive professional," the urgent need for Indigenous language in schools, and the upcoming themes of her second book, Breakable, which explores healthy masculinity and breaking generational cycles.Whether you are a student, a creator, or an advocate, this conversation offers a masterclass in using your voice—and your pen—as an agent of change.In this episode, we discuss:The difference between forgiveness and accountability.Angela’s cultural heritage: The "House of the Big Wings" and matrilineal responsibility.Why Indigenous journalists are essential to challenging colonial lenses in media.The crisis of isolation among men and the path to "sacred manhood".How to regulate your nervous system to move from trauma into imagination.Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Rachel Texon welcomes Angela Sterritt.01:03 – The Difference Between Forgiveness and Accountability.03:10 – Cultural Identity: The Gitxsan Nation and the "House of Big Wings".04:00 – The Responsibility of Disrupting and Dismantling Colonial Systems.06:54 – Navigating the "Sidebar": The Reality for Indigenous Professionals.08:13 – Being a "Disruptive Professional" and the Need for Proxies.11:15 – Part Memoir, Part Investigation: The Structure of "Unbroken".12:28 – The Driving Force: Why Angela Blended Her Story with the MMIWG Crisis.17:02 – Breaking Journalistic Rules: Including "Lived Experience" as Expertise.20:05 – First Look at "Breakable": Investigating Masculinity and Patriarchy.23:01 – How New is Patriarchy? Looking at 14,000 Years of Indigenous History.28:00 – The Silent Crisis: Loneliness and Overdose Statistics Among Men.31:19 – Creating Brotherhoods: The Need for Safe Spaces for Men to Emote.35:15 – Indigenous Storytelling vs. the "Non-Indigenous Anthropologist" Lens.40:42 – Reclaiming Language: The Case for Indigenous Languages in Schools.46:53 – The Pen as a Counselor: Writing as an Agent of Change.54:55 – Nervous System Regulation and the Highest Form of Love.01:03:00 – Final Thoughts: Jimi Hendrix and the Power of Love.Support the Guest:https://angelasterritt.com/📖 Get the book "Unbroken": https://greystonebooks.com/products/unbroken🌐 Follow Angela Sterritt: https://www.instagram.com/angela_sterritt/Connect with the Show:https://www.instagram.com/rachelthextonconnects/https://thextonpr.com/#AngelaSterritt #IndigenousVoices #Unbroken #Journalism #Healing #Masculinity #SocialJustice #Podcast