A Tribute to Mâkochî Wîyâ

ÎYÂRHE STONEY ELDER Phillomene Stevens made a lasting impact in her community. Her relationships with people, the land, her culture and history are all remembered with fondness.

At AMA, we remember Stevens — lovingly known as Mother Earth Woman, or Mâkochî Wîyâ in the Îethka language — for her contribution to the School Garden Studio program, where she shared her vast knowledge.

Stevens was a certified crisis counsellor who worked with the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters and was an advocate for her people as Bearspaw Community Chief. She was also a survivor of residential schools. Her life’s focus on education and community has left a lasting legacy for future generations.

Born on the Gahna-Eden Valley Reserve, Stevens grew up in Mînî Thnî, a First Nations settlement in Southern Alberta — where she became a community leader, handing down teachings from her parents and elders who shaped her upbringing. Stevens’ title as an Elder, an honour bestowed by her community, symbolizes reverence for her knowledge and connections, explains Stevens’ friend and colleague Dawn Granley, an educator and member of the Otipemsiwak Métis Nation.

Granley and Stevens met in Mînî Thnî, at Focus 10 Educational Consulting Group, where they were developing Indigenous learning content for AMA’s School Garden Studio. “In a short time, she had a huge impact on me,” Granley remembers. “She was humble, generous, compassionate and kind. She was wise. She was a very, very special Elder.”

As a Traditional Knowledge Keeper of the Stoney Nakoda Nation, Stevens was known for using storytelling to encourage everyone she met and worked with to embrace their Indigenous heritage and practise resilience, all while sharing her language and traditions. “She worked tirelessly for her family, her community [and] the community surrounding her community,” says Granley, “and she did it with generosity and grace.”

Stevens passed away at age 71 in December 2024 in Calgary. A very special member of our community, Stevens left an incredible legacy of learning. We will continue to share her teachings for many years to come. AMA