At Deep Roots, Strong Families, my mission is to walk beside Indigenous families as they navigate life’s challenges. Founded by myself, Samantha Buchsdruecker, I am a proud Big River First Nation and Spanish descendant. My work is rooted in lived experience, resilience, and a vision of stronger, healthier futures for all Indigenous families. This initiative began as a way to turn lived- experience into system change- ensuring no other family has to walk alone.
I am a mother of two and married to my supportive husband, Tyler. We are both originally from Edmonton, Alberta, and have called the Lower Mainland home for over fifteen years.
I am grateful to live and work on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Fraser Salish Peoples — including, but not limited to, the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. I continue to learn from and honour all the Nations whose lands I live and work on.
My advocacy and teachings stem from my own lived experience navigating healthcare and social-service systems as an Indigenous mother. These personal journeys have shaped my perspective and deepened my commitment to creating safer, more compassionate systems for other Indigenous families.
Since 2024, I have been collaborating as a Patient Partner with Dr. Nichole Fairbrother (PhD, R.Psych, Director, Perinatal Anxiety Research Lab, UBC) on research in perinatal mental health. Together, we have co-presented at hospitals and with Legal Aid BC, where I’ve shared lived-experience expertise and cultural advocacy.
Alongside my advocacy, I have worked with BC Ambulance Service for the past five years, giving me firsthand insight into healthcare systems and the challenges families face when accessing care.
Through Deep Roots, Strong Families, I now focus on community-based advocacy, collaboration, and education — supporting families and organizations in building culturally safe, trauma-informed pathways to care. All supports are offered in partnership with local Friendship Centres, First Nations, and community organizations, and are provided at no cost to families.
Our vision is collective: to strengthen family connections, honour Indigenous knowledge, and help systems walk more gently with the people they serve.
🌿 Love
🌿 Respect
🌿 Cultural Safety
🌿 Family First
We believe in a future where Indigenous families are supported with compassion, where cultural knowledge is honored, and where organizations and service providers work hand-in-hand with communities to build safer, more inclusive systems. Together we are building bridges between communities and systems so that indigenous families are met with understanding, respect, and care.