Keilani Rose
Bio
Soo’aht’oh, my name is Keilani Elizabeth Rose. I was born and raised in Lheidli T’enneh territory. Along my matrilineal roots, I belong to the Lheidli T’enneh nation holding intersectional Indigeneity of Kānaka Maoli diaspora. I also carry British settler, Chinese immigrant, and Black ancestry. I am the great-granddaughter of Captain Owen Forrester Browne and a direct descendent of beloved Granny Seymour, The Matriarch of the North. It is the legacy of my ancestors, the courage of Polynesian wayfinders, and the heart of Dakelh healers, that lead me on my path. I am the oldest of three siblings raised by a single mother. In resonance with the values of our mixed Indigenous heritage, she has nurtured our natural gifts and encouraged us to become the artists, storytellers, dancers, musicians, and change-makers we are today. Following this sacred path of creativity has led me through immense healing and has guided me to reconnection with my Lheidli family and culture. My work in the film industry as a writer and actor is inspired by the hope to honor the diverse voices of my BIPOC community, striving for greater representation, sovereign stories, and Indigenous justice. In recognition of the responsibility that accompanies the privilege of being an able-bodied, cis-gendered woman, I stand in allyship and solidarity with the disabled and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities through my ever-improving work towards inclusivity. My more wholesome understanding of my complex, layered identity, and Indigeneity began forming as a result of my pursuit of truth in my early adult years. My story is a story of reclamation. I share this in transparency and respect as one who is returning home with deep reverence for honesty, relational accountability, and cultural safety.