Oki, nisto’akoaka Naatoyaimoniisaakii, also known as Dr. Quintina Bearchief-Adolpho, PhD. My parents are the late Clement and Theresa Bear-Chief. I’ve been married to Robert Kaanoiakapuuwai Adolpho for thirty years, and together we have six children and six grandchildren (soon to be seven).

My bachelor’s degree is in Human Development. I hold two master’s degrees—one in School Counseling and the other in School Psychology. I also have a PhD in Counseling Psychology. I have more than twenty years of experience in counselling and psychology. Additionally, I have served my nation as a council member for the Siksika Nation Chief and Council. Currently, I am the Mental Health and Wellness Clinical Team Leader at Siksika Health Services, where I am responsible for developing the Mental Health Counselling Services for the Nation.

I grew up listening to Blackfoot stories and have used the lessons from these tales to guide my life both personally and professionally. One story I often reflect on is about the sun and the moon. Essentially, the story teaches that the Father, represented by the Sun, rises every day on the eastern horizon and sets each night on the western horizon, unchanging in His course from day to day and year to year. He is stable, unchangeable, reliable, and predictable. The Mother, represented by the Moon, changes each day. She waxes and wanes. She doesn’t simply move from east to west; instead, the moonrise continually shifts in the opposite direction, from west to east. Each day, She reappears further to the east before beginning Her journey westward. The sun and moon work together to sustain our existence on earth. We learn from the sun and moon that each of us has an important role to play, making it essential for everyone to work together. When we collaborate, harmony follows.