My Roots: A Story of Remembrance and Responsibility

As a young girl, I knew I carried privilege - not because anyone told me, but because I could feel it.

My maternal grandfather, Gerald Greer, was a man known to me for his great wisdom, big heart, and unwavering commitment to his family.

Yet the wisdom he carried came at a price. His past struggles with alcoholism were no secret - he held himself with the stoicism of a man who had seen the depths of hell and survived.

There was a certain distance in my own mother when I tried to understand her past - and a lack of tolerance for my own negative behaviours - despite the support and opportunities I had around me.

My grandfather’s experiences - his time in the Navy, his complicated relationship with the Catholic Church, and his life as a recovering alcoholic - opened a wider lens for me.

He spoke often of other cultures. He taught us about residential schools. Never once did I hear him speak a word of hate toward another human being.

Now, standing in my forties, I understand that my longing for justice, equity, and reconciliation wasn’t something that magically lived inside me - it was modeled for me through the quiet presence of this man.

What I’ve come to know through my own journey is that no one belongs on a pedestal.

If we are honest, each of us can be brought to our knees by our own shortcomings.

The more willing we are to stand grounded - forgetting our titles, our accolades - and instead meet our own humanity with curiosity and compassion, the more we create a world where dignity and respect are given to all.

It’s in that space that true healing and reconciliation can take root.

A Seed Planted Early

I was around 11 or 12 years old when I first stood on the steps of a former residential school in British Columbia.

We had traveled there with my grandfather, navigating backroads on motor utility vehicles, with him leading the way.

The building stood silent - a giant stone structure in the middle of the forest. It was nothing like the schools I knew.

It was there, with his grounded, truthful presence, that my grandfather explained what had happened in these places.

He didn’t speak with judgment. He didn’t pretend to have all the answers.

But in his way, he passed on a knowing that settled deep inside my young spirit - a seed that would continue to grow for decades.

It wasn’t until writing these words that I realized how deeply his spirit has guided my own quest: to understand the impact of colonization, of systemic authority, and to seek another way - a way rooted in dignity, compassion, and truth.

My Work in the World

As a Child and Youth Care Worker, I witnessed firsthand the complexities of being a “white woman” walking into the homes of Indigenous families within the Child Welfare System.

My blonde hair and blue eyes often triggered defenses before I even spoke a word.

I chose to show up with my spirit wide open, my vulnerabilities present, and my agenda set aside.

My work was not about ticking off a checklist - it was about being seen and, in turn, truly seeing the people before me.

Sometimes, that simple act of showing up without pretense or superiority created a space where something real could emerge.

In 2012, while pregnant with my third child, I was asked to cover a shift for another agency employee.

That day, I was tasked with bringing two young Indigenous boys to their reservation for teachings from a tribal elder.

It seemed like an ordinary assignment - until I entered the circle.

The elder’s eyes locked onto mine from the moment I sat down.

Even as others spoke and shared, her gaze never wavered.

When it was finally my turn to introduce myself, I followed the same format: my name, where I was from, why I was there.

She shook her head and said, “No. That is not who you are. You must learn who you are.”

Tears streamed down my face.

I nodded - a deep knowing stirring in my soul - and she placed her hand over her chest.

It was an act of compassion, of witnessing, of initiation.

Since that day, her words have continued to mentor me, guiding my ongoing journey to remember my ancestral lineage and soul truth.

Expanded Horizons / Where I am Today

Since 2017, I’ve been facilitating group work for women seeking a deeper connection to their path, purpose, and spirituality. My workshops and circles were never limited by age, background, or profession. I’ve always trusted that those who were meant to come would arrive- and they did.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting in circle with university professors, PhD candidates, hairstylists, stay-at-home mothers, students, and more. Women from all walks of life came together, not because they fit into a specific mold, but because they were ready to explore, express, and evolve. We met as equals- soul to soul, heart to heart.

Now, through my work with Soul Dolls, I understand why I never felt the need to define a specific demographic. The doll, much like the circle, calls to the soul- not to a title or a role. She invites us into deeper presence, creativity, and healing, regardless of where we come from.

Looking back, I see clearly: I’ve always been drawn to open systems of learning- spaces that are inclusive, intuitive, and alive with possibility. My work has never been about offering answers from the top down, but about creating a shared field where insight, artistry, and transformation can rise organically from within each person.

This is the essence of my program Weaving Wholeness- The Soul Dolls Approach: welcoming diversity, honoring uniqueness, and trusting the wisdom that emerges when we gather in circle and create with intention.

“We each hold our own wisdom and medicine; when we come together in circle, we create the space to call it forward.” — Shelly Szigli

Photos credit - Jolaine Nicole Photography

“I acknowledge that I create and share my work on the ancestral lands of the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai, Tsuut’ina, and Stoney Nakoda Nations, within Treaty 7 territory in Lethbridge, Alberta. In my artistry and offerings I honor the wisdom and enduring presence of this sacred land, inviting its guidance and truth into each soul doll, and offering I create.”

-Shelly