Martiall built from tech and systems side, but brittany really brought relationship, community and grounding. Rigel is built around trust, cultural safety and respect.
RiGEL - star in the sky brightest star in Orion (hunter) constellation (his left foot). Martial is anishinaabe, anisihanaabe are star people and rigel is about finding your way
Handing down more than just physica assets, but sacred items, songs, ceremonies
Both have spent most of their adult life reconnecting with their culture and communities. Says have encountered many who did not grow up with their culture, feel nervous or uncertain, but Brittany shares if you come with an open heart and prepared to do things in a good way, you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
Language - Brittany is learning her language, Martial is learning some words and to introduce themselves.
Brittany was raised by paternal grandparents (English and Norwegian). Brittany learned about RS in university, but still didn’t know family history in regards to it. When reconnecting with family in Manitoba, learned that her grandma attended. When her grandma was 10, her whole family died in a car accident and so she never left RS until she aged out. :(
Met 4 years ago at a healing conference in Fort St. John
RiGEL came to be bc indigenous communities deserve better systems of governance/authority, Martial is more on the tech side, Brittany more on the relationships and educational side.
Trust, cultural safety and respect
Economic reconciliation
About removing stigma around death and planning, taking some of the hardship off the people who are grieving immediately after the loss
Data sovereignty -
All Estates have to be settled (applying for death certificate and these types of things). Estates are about responsibility.
Section 87 of Indian Act - RiGEL helps turn messy pieces into a clear map
A lot of hoops to jump through when living on reserve
Indian on reserve in indian act - your estate is subject to the minister of Indian affairs, where they then take over the will
When you're planning your estate, it's about responsibility and love. Being open to feedback
Indigenous entrepreneurs - they are part of the fireweed cohort in 2026
One of the biggest obstacles? The status quo
Incorporated on November 26 of 2025
In pilot discussion with 6 different nations
Pilot beginning with a national bank
Launching personal data for anyone to sign up and use the platform
Working with team of lawyers to have power of attorney, will etc.. on RiGEL - where executor can know what to do as well as HOW
Excited for beta testing to start next week
Largest wave of estate transfer in history (in the next 15 years with the baby boomers generation)
Reconciliation
Reconciliation is not comfortable or convenient and has to show up in systems that already exist. Who has access, who has authority? The more layers there are in a system, the harder it is to see the transparency
TRC’s 94 calls to action need to be implemented - in schools, hospitals and “every institution that’s been placed upon us”
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