Matthew Shorting is Anishinaabe living on Treaty 1 Territory and is a member of the Little Saskatchewan First Nation Treaty 2. He was placed in the Manitoba Child Welfare system at 5 months old, becoming a permanent ward at 6 until the age of 18. He now shares how he heals from intergenerational trauma to holistic well-being.

Matthew works in restorative justice and is a father to a 10-year-old daughter. He’s participated in various speaking engagements since 2012, assists with Meet me at the the Belltower and volunteers for Bear Clan in Winnipeg. In June of 2017, Matthew was 1 of 4 Indigenous torch carriers that helped light the Canada Summer Games flame.

On November 7, 2018, Matthew was a voice in The Amendment made to the Child and Family Services Act. BILL 223, where Children can no longer be apprehended due to Poverty and in February of 2019, he received the Royal Canadian Humane Association Bravery Bronze Medal award.

Matthew has become an advocate for the better treatment of our Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and families. Matthew brings to light the deficiencies of many systems such as justice, education and child welfare so that appropriate solutions can be achieved on an individual basis and through the self-determination of our Nations.