Salena Starling

Meet our Speaker: Salena Starling is an Indigenous youth advocate, public speaker, and the President and CEO of the Community of Big Hearts. A proud First Nations, Swampy Cree woman from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN), Salena has dedicated her life to promoting Truth and Reconciliation and uplifting Indigenous youth, especially those who have experienced the foster care system.

As a foster care survivor herself, Salena's work is deeply rooted in her personal experiences. Growing up in poverty, navigating the child welfare system, and overcoming generational trauma, she has become a powerful voice for change. By sharing her story, she raises awareness about the challenges Indigenous youth face, including issues like poverty, addiction, sex trafficking, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+).

Salena’s work spans workshops, presentations, and the Reconciliation Road Challenge—a national initiative designed to make reconciliation a daily conversation within organizations. With a mission to create equitable and understanding communities, she has worked with businesses across Canada, helping them understand Indigenous history and its lasting impacts on Indigenous peoples today.

A public speaker since the age of 11, Salena’s advocacy extends beyond education. She is a TEDx speaker and a graduate of the CanU program. Her passion lies in empowering Indigenous youth, reforming the foster care system, and ensuring that reconciliation becomes a meaningful, action-driven practice across society.

Talk: Breaking Cycles: Creating Change through Understanding and Reconciliation

In this powerful session, Salena Starling shares her journey of overcoming systemic challenges as a foster care survivor and Indigenous youth. Through personal stories and deep insights, Salena sheds light on how intergenerational trauma and historic injustices continue to affect Indigenous peoples today. The talk focuses on breaking harmful cycles by fostering understanding, addressing unconscious biases, and promoting truth and reconciliation in communities and workplaces. Salena emphasizes the importance of empathy, education, and action, inspiring participants to be part of creating lasting, equitable change.