Indigenous-Led Research, Anti-Colonial Insight, Organizational Transformation

St’élxwets’ (Octopus) Consulting is an Indigenous-led consultancy providing research, analysis, and organizational transformation for teams seeking clarity, cohesion, and culturally grounded leadership. Guided by the wisdom of the octopus, we help teams align, adapt, and thrive through innovation research, facilitation, and strategies.

Guided by the octopus—adaptable, perceptive, and able to see in all directions at once—we help organizations align their many “arms” to work together with purpose, strength, and integrity.

We focus on:

  • Indigenous-led research to uncover patterns, relationships, and structural barriers

  • Anti-colonial analysis to identify behaviours, policies, and systems rooted in colonial legacies

  • Facilitated organizational transformation that strengthens unity, communication, and leadership clarity

Our approach begins with listening, then moves through collaborative design, cultural analysis, and actionable pathways forward. We equip organizations with the tools and frameworks to address challenges in ways that honour Indigenous wisdom, lived experience, and relational intelligence.

Our Philosophy

  • Research informs transformation. Data without context is incomplete; our research is grounded in Indigenous methodologies and relational inquiry.

  • Relationships drive change. We strengthen trust, clarity, and communication within teams to enable sustainable transformation.

  • Culture is central. All change must reflect the organization’s values and the Indigenous intelligence that guides our work.

  • Brave space matters. We create safe, inclusive environments where difficult conversations lead to real insight and growth.

Our Services

Indigenous-Led Research & Anti-Colonial Analysis

We conduct organizational assessments, environmental scans, and community-informed research. Using culturally grounded methodologies, we surface patterns, structures, and behaviours affecting your organization, and translate insights into practical strategies for transformation.

Organizational Culture Visioning

Facilitated sessions to define or refresh your team’s cultural foundations, behaviours, expectations, and measures of success. We host brave spaces for honest dialogue, knowledge sharing, and visioning that empowers your team to thrive together.

Liberating Change Management

Strategic planning, communications and organizational design to increase clarity, capacity, and alignment during periods of change. Collaborative leadership pathway design, competency mapping, and role clarity to align with your organization’s culture and goals.

Meet the Team

Michelle George, MBA, DBA Candidate (Squamish Nation)
Executive leader with 30+ years of experience in Indigenous governance and urban Indigenous non-profit management. MBA from Simon Fraser University. Cultural weaver, matriarchal leader, and facilitator of unity, communication, and purpose-driven transformation.

Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee, MA (Squamish Nation)
Anti-colonial educator, designer, and facilitator with 30+ years of experience driving social change through communication, design, and organizational transformation. Author and designer of creative non-fiction, workbooks and board games. MA in Communication; PhD candidate in Education focused on Indigenous organizational transformation. Awarded the 2019 City of Vancouver Award of Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion.

Laurie Parsons, PhD (Cree Nation, Saskatchewan)
Indigenous engagement and decolonial research specialist with 30+ years of experience in community development, organizational transformation, and Indigenous-informed policy. Laurie holds a DVM/PhD from UC Davis, dual Master’s degrees in Indigenous Education and Economics, and extensive work in Indigenous language revitalization, Truth and Reconciliation through Education, and holistic Indigenous practices. A Sixties Scoop survivor and reclaimed identity holder, Laurie blends lived experience, cross-cultural expertise, and deep relational intelligence to create inclusive, safe, and thriving spaces for individuals, communities, and organizations.

Ready for Change?

Let’s explore how research, analysis, and facilitation can transform your team and systems.

Contact us to book a consultation:
📧 contact@stelxwetsconsulting.com