Who We Are
Our Story
Kindred was born from a shared path. Co-founders Erin Light and Melinda Kelleher have been walking alongside one another for nearly a decade, supporting each other through personal journeys of self-discovery, healing, and professional growth. We know firsthand that the most transformative work happens when we show up as our whole, authentic selves.
Our practice is rooted in this belief. We are a trauma-informed, community-centered collective, committed to feminist, anti-colonial, anti-racist, and above all, human-centred frameworks. We don’t just offer services; we hold space. Joining Erin and Melinda, our team of partners and consultants brings a wealth of diverse experience, but more importantly, a shared commitment to the "heart-work" our communities need.
Our origin story is deeply tied to our work with the Innu of Labrador, which began in 2015. Over years of capacity development, we supported the realization of their vision: Innu-owned and operated on-reserve placement facilities for Innu children. This was far more than a project; it was a profound learning process. It taught us to re-center community and place, to prioritize collective care, and to find new ways of being in the work and in the world. It was some of the most challenging, humbling, and grounding work of our lives.
Today, we operate as a collective because we believe that the best work is collaborative. We bring together a wide network of values-aligned professionals—from clinicians, DEI advocates, and HR specialists, to governance, finance, and IT experts, to artists and illustrators—to meet the specific, evolving needs of our clients and the communities they serve. This model allows us to remain agile and lean, keeping your resources focused where they matter most, while ensuring you have access to the deep expertise and compassionate care that meaningful change requires.
Reconciliation, Equity,
Diversity, & Inclusion
We actively work to challenge and dismantle colonial, racist, and oppressive frameworks to cultivate culturally safer environments.
Our Values & Commitment
The way we work is inseparable from what we value.
Our commitments shape our decisions, how we build relationships, and how we work alongside others.
Authenticity & Vulnerability
We create shared spaces where practitioners and leaders can think, create, connect, and engage with honesty, vulnerability, and care.
Feminist Principles
We focus on strengths, possibilities, and collective capacity, supporting organizations to build resilience and create meaningful change from within.
Meet the Team
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Erin Light
Co-founder & Partner
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Melinda Kelleher
Co-founder & Partner