December 2022 was a turning point for Joanne, she came to Regina from Standing Buffalo First Nation determined to finally speak her truth and  flee a domestic violence relationship that had gone on way too long.   In September of 2023 Joanne sought reunification with her granddaughter Wilma as she was left on her own due to her mother, Joanne’s daughter, passing away.  This child is now her focus and Joanne says Wilma is happier than she has ever been.  Keeping family together is priority number one for Joanne and she makes a special effort to ensure Wilma that grandma is not going anywhere while continuing to work through her own issues related to trauma and abandonment.  Joanne hopes for a future in which Wilma can do anything she wants to do.