We Are Still Here: A Conversation with Phyllis Webstad
September 10, 2026
Presented in partnership with Medicine Wheel Publishing, this conversation welcomed acclaimed author Phyllis Webstad, whose story inspired Orange Shirt Day, and Teddy Anderson (Yeil S'aghi) of Medicine Wheel Publishing. Drawing on Phyllis's new memoir, We Are Still Here: A Life of Truth and Reconciling Two Worlds, they explored what it means to decolonize publishing, the importance of Indigenous-led publishing, and the realities Indigenous authors can face when bringing their stories to the world. Phyllis and Teddy shared the challenges Phyllis encountered while trying to find a publisher for her first book, offering insight into the barriers that have historically shaped Indigenous storytelling and how the publishing landscape is changing.
Phyllis Webstad (née Jack) is Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band), with mixed Secwepemc and Irish/French heritage. Born in Dog Creek, she lives in Williams Lake, BC. By sharing her personal Orange Shirt Story, she has inspired thousands of people to honour residential school Survivors and their families and to share the call each September 30 that "EVERY CHILD MATTERS." She is well respected for her work, her courage, and her efforts to heal our communities and Nation by speaking her truth.
Teddy Anderson (Yeil S'aghi) comes from a multicultural (Persian and European) background and spent much of his childhood in Rwanda. He was later adopted by Annie Auston into the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, a Tlingit community in the Yukon, becoming a third-generation adopted member of the family and community. He is the founder and publisher of the award-winning Medicine Wheel Publishing, an Indigenous publishing house dedicated to amplifying authentic Indigenous voices and decolonizing the publishing industry through Indigenous-led storytelling, publishing, and education. He has collaborated with many Indigenous authors and illustrators, including best-selling author Phyllis Webstad. Before entering publishing, he built a career of more than two decades in the performing arts, performing over 2,500 times for audiences in more than 20 countries. Growing up across cultures and performing around the world shaped his commitment to building bridges between cultures through education, storytelling, and Truth and Reconciliation. He lives and works in Victoria, BC, where Medicine Wheel Publishing is based.
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The lands we live on connect us to the stories of our past and those that will be told in the future-the stories upon which our profession is based. These lands sustain and nourish us, and our relationships with each other help us thrive. The Indigenous Editors Association gives thanks to the the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Peoples who continue to steward the lands on which our head office is located, in Vancouver, BC. It is in this spirit of gratitude that we carry out our work as Indigenous members of the publishing community.
