Kahontakwas Diane Longboat, B.A, B.Ed, M.Ed is a member of the Turtle Clan, Mohawk Nation at Six Nations Grand River Territory, Canada and a citizen of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Diane’s work is situated at the intersection of health, education and traditional First Nations knowledge systems. At the University of Toronto, from 1986-1994, Diane founded First Nations House, and extensive services for Indigenous students to ensure their success. She continues to consult with Indigenous education organizations on curriculum and policy.
Diane is founder of Soul of the Mother, a Healing and Teaching Lodge on the shores of the Grand River in her home community. Since 1994 the Lodge has developed extensive relationships with First Nations in Canada, the United States and Indigenous Nations globally. The Council of Soul of the Mother welcomes many organizations, nationally and internationally who seek Indigenous wisdom traditions as inspiration for their strategic planning, healing retreats for the rejuvenation of their staff and spiritual guidance for growth of their organizations.
“The metamorphosis of systems is essential to meet societal responses to environmental shifts. Traditional First Nations knowledge systems and wisdom traditions are the foundation for change and essential for human survival. Indigenous Nations hold the key to the healing of Mother Earth and the spiritual evolution of the human family.”
From 2013 to 2025 Diane served as Elder for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada’s largest and leading institution for clinical services and research for mental well-being. Diane led the development of the Ceremony Grounds for CAMH to establish the Sweat Lodge, the Sacred Fire with 44 ceremonies and medicine gardens, including the policy development required to support traditional Indigenous healing as a standard of practice.
Her work involved organizational strategy for enhancing culturally grounded services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples as Rights Holders and advancing the Guiding Directions Plan and the CAMH Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan. Beyond CAMH, Diane has been instrumental in influencing the Indigenous anti-racism and health justice strategy of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network through the creation of the Indigenous Health Action Network. This group of Indigenous health leaders provide strategic advice to the CEOs of the 17 member hospitals in the GTA. The model will be replicated in Ontario. As consultant to the Ontario Hospital Association, Diane supports their leadership and personnel as they co-create their relationships for their Indigenous health strategy with First Nations and the 140 member hospitals throughout Ontario working towards excellence in health outcomes for Indigenous patients, families and communities.
Today, Diane serves as CEO to the Institute for the Study of Spirit, a national Indigenous women-led charity serving First Nations community needs through ceremonies, and cultural teachings, training the next generation of Healers and gathering global networks of Indigenous Healers and spiritual leaders for mutual support and critical offerings of wisdom at this turning point in humanity’s relationships with Mother Earth.