Statement of Purpose
Sisters United is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Montana. Our mission is to empower Indigenous women, children, and communities with healing at the forefront. We heal through art, connecting with the land and our creator, focusing on healthy lifestyles, and educating people on the history of Indigenous people in our country. Sisters United is dedicated to functioning as a grassroots organization, maintaining flexibility as we seek change.
Candice English (Blackfeet & Nez Pierce)
| Founder & President
Candice English (she/her) founded Sisters United in the early months of 2019 after feeling tired of seeing the effects that intergenerational trauma, violence, drug & alcohol abuse, and poverty have on both our rural and urban Indigenous communities in Montana. As the owner and operator of Farmers Daughter Fibers, she appreciates the support that the fiber arts community has shown our organization.
Madison Mitchell
Madison Mitchell is a knitter, quilter, and part-time beader. Outside of making, she enjoys walking her dogs and spending time with her family. She joined the Sisters United board to connect with her community and work alongside women who share her passions and values. Madison loves being creative, learning new things, and finding ways to give back.
Kim McKeehan (Little Shell Chippewa) | Board Member
Kim McKeehan is an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe and lives in Bozeman. She is a mental health therapist and writer, and leads a somatic healing group for Indigenous people. Kim joined the Sisters United board because of its strengths-based, community-centered approach to healing. She has a passion for poetry!
Rochelle DeRoche (Blackfeet) | Board Member
Rochelle DeRoche, Iinakksistsiikoomakii (Little Thunder Woman), is a WIOA Counselor at Montana United Indian Association. She supports Native American individuals in reaching their education, training, and career goals through guidance, advocacy, and resources that help them overcome barriers and find meaningful employment. With a background in education and advocacy, Rochelle has dedicated her career to helping Native people access opportunities to thrive. She is a proud mother of two and has a daughter-in-law. Her family roots extend across both sides of the Medicine Line through the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Amskapi Pikuni and Piikani Nations. Her family, culture, and traditions continue to inspire her work.
Serena McGillis Steffenson (Little Shell Chippewa)| Board Member
Serena Steffenson is an enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana. Born and raised in Great Falls, she grew up on Hill 57. Serena works as a Youth Development Specialist with the Great Falls Public Schools Indigenous Education Department. She joined the Sisters United board to make a difference in her community and help create opportunities for Indigenous people to succeed. Serena is a wife, mother, and grandmother, and is proud of the life she shares with her family and community.
Heather Smith | Board Member
Heather Smith (She/Her) is a Fiber Artist, Nurse, Teacher, Wife, and Mom as well as a community activist with a focus on Justice and Fairness for all members of her community. As the former President of the Great Falls LGBTQ Center board as well as being an educator in the nursing program at GFC-MSU, Education and healthcare are her passions. In her creative career, Heather can be found spinning yarns (literally for the most part) and knitting and weaving from them.