Important Update
At this time, Stardale is not offering our regular after-school programming as we are transitioning our focus to archiving educational materials, reviewing our historical data from years of program implementation, performing research, and distributing of our materials. We remain open to and will continue community presentations both online and in-person, as well as the screenings of our short films and subsequent discussion points with Stardale members. Our organization remains operational in a research and archival capacity as we make efforts to ensure the history of Stardale and our girls continues to live on and make a meaningful impact.
FROM THE STARDALE ARCHIVES
The Talking Quilt (2000)
The Talking Quilt project, created by Stardale Women's Group, brought together Indigenous women from Treaty 6 and Treaty 4 territories in Saskatchewan to heal from the trauma of residential schools through art therapy and storytelling. For four months, participants gathered five days a week under the guidance of Executive Director Helen McPhaden, where many shared their experiences for the first time. Funding for the project was provided by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. As they stitched together a quilt incorporating Stardale's logo colors, they began to process their painful memories, creating both a physical artwork and a pathway to healing from intergenerational trauma. The entire journey was captured on video, resulting in "The Talking Quilt" documentary. ©
This transformative project addressed the legacy of residential school abuse by honoring the four components of the Medicine Wheel—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. Through council sharing, a traditional approach that formed a circle of women speakers of truth, participants explored their experiences of physical punishment, emotional suppression, mental degradation, and spiritual deadening. The supportive, non-judgmental environment allowed women to shed their defenses and fear of judgment, creating space for psychological and spiritual health to emerge. The collaborative quilting process became a vehicle for memories and visions to take form, revealing the many layers of how residential schools impacted family, culture, and tradition. ©
Upon completion, the Talking Quilt project consisted of three interconnected elements—the physical quilt, edited video documentation, and written narratives—all designed to touch the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual essence of viewers. These components serve as conductors of awareness, honoring and respecting the experiences of residential school survivors while triggering healing through exploration of the "hidden" qualities personified within the quilt. By bringing the past into the present to be identified and examined, the project empowers women to reclaim their strength and dignity, consciously evolving through their creative expression and collective healing journey. ©
Who is Stardale?
Stardale is a community and safe space for Indigenous girls to learn grow and explore what their futures could hold. With humble origins, we work every single day to improve the lives of the young girls that participate in our program and set them on a solid course for their future.
Our program serves young Indigenous girls from ages 10-17. The four components of the holistic Stardale Model encompass the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of life.
It all starts and ends with our girls
From life skills and educational assistance to fashion, music and cultural practices the Stardale girls are provided with as many experiences and opportunities as possible.
Watch this short documentary to explore what being a part of Stardale Women’s Group is really like for our girls. Dive deep into the world of Stardale Women’s Group and the causes, initiatives and girls we work to empower.
When we provide positive, supportive environments for Indigenous young women and girls, we build resilience across generations.
“I am a part of the program because it gives me a sense of belonging and that I am not the only one. There are other girls out there just like me and Stardale Women’s Group has helped many of us.”
— Maegen S.
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