In an exclusive interview with Indigenous-SME Business Magazine, Rachael Hunt, Founder and CEO of Freedom School Co., shares how she is reshaping workplace culture and uplifting Indigenous professionals through healing-centered empowerment, leadership development, and the transformative vision behind her Cycle Breakers Movement.
Rachael Hunt is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation and the Founder & CEO of Freedom School Co. She is a keynote speaker, Indigenous Employee Empowerment Consultant and Intuitive Mentor, specializing in helping organizations retain, empower, and elevate Indigenous talent. She works with companies to break systemic barriers, increase Indigenous representation in leadership, and foster workplace environments where Indigenous employees thrive. She also mentors Indigenous women & entrepreneurs to help them achieve their potential with greater confidence & clarity while walking in two worlds personally & professionally. As the host of The Cycle Breakers Podcast, Rachael is leading conversations on Indigenous success, prosperity, and well-being in both corporate and entrepreneurial spaces. As the creator of the award-winning Freedom Method™️, Rachael is trained in NLP, EFT, Hypnosis, Somatic Therapy, Holy Fire® Reiki, and Success Coaching.
Can you share the origin story of the Cycle Breakers Movement and how your personal journey influenced its creation?
In 2021, I moved to Tulum, Mexico, not realizing I was living on Indigenous Mayan land. About six months later, I found myself in ceremony deep in the Mayan jungle when the heartbeat of the drum spoke right to my spirit. In that moment, I received a message I can only describe as coming from Creator: It’s time to come home. Home to the land, the roots, the lineage, and the culture of my ancestors.
That summer, I returned to Ontario and spent five months reconnecting to my Anishinaabe culture – visiting relatives, spending time in my home community of Neyaashiinigmiing, attending ceremony, learning Anishinaabemowin, and sitting with our Sacred Teachings.
After that time, I briefly returned to Tulum, where the vision for The Cycle Breakers Movement came through during a meditation. This time, Creator showed me how I was meant to bring the subconscious and somatic healing frameworks I was already offering through Freedom School Co. to Indigenous women, leaders, changemakers, and entrepreneurs. I saw myself teaching in front of large groups, speaking on stages, and supporting communities, which is exactly what I’m grateful to do today.
How does Freedom School Co.’s Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program address systemic barriers and transform workplace culture for Indigenous professionals?
Freedom School Co.’s Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program (IEEP) supports organizations and First Nations Communities in building workplaces where Indigenous professionals thrive. By strengthening internal capacity, we resource leaders and teams with science-backed, trauma-informed tools that foster confidence, self-worth, and resilience among Indigenous employees. This directly improves morale, engagement, and retention while positioning your organization as a genuine leader in Indigenous success and allyship.
IEEP addresses the systemic and internalized barriers Indigenous employees commonly face, including imposter syndrome, self-doubt, tokenism, fear of judgement, and scarcity mindsets, by working at both the subconscious and somatic levels. Through transformative & interactive group experiences, employees learn to safely process and release what has held them back professionally and personally.
Our evidence-based healing frameworks help employees:
- feel confident in their role and capacity to grow
- feel worthy, valued, and safe to contribute
- express themselves authentically
- strengthen communication & conflict resolution skills
- build meaningful relationships
- experience greater satisfaction, belonging, and purpose at work
This level of support creates a powerful ripple effect across the workplace; enhancing well-being, strengthening team culture, and fostering environments where Indigenous employees feel seen, heard, and empowered.
In what ways does The Freedom Method™️ integrate trauma-informed and science-backed frameworks to foster healing and generational prosperity for Indigenous communities?
Our mission is to create pathways for greater accessibility to the tools and resources that support deep healing, self-determination, and generational prosperity for Indigenous communities. The Freedom Method™ integrates trauma-informed and science-backed modalities – including NLP, EFT, Timeline Techniques, Hypnosis, somatic therapy practices, and nervous system regulation – through an Indigenous lens. This is woven throughout everything we offer from private mentorship to corporate workshops to keynotes.
We recognize that many of the barriers our people face are rooted in collective, generational, and lived experiences of trauma. Because of this, our approach centers safety, sovereignty, and empowerment at every stage. We help individuals understand how trauma shows up in the mind and body, and we guide them in identifying & releasing patterns such as fear, self-doubt, shame, and scarcity that have limited their ability to step into their fullest potential.
By blending Western neuroscience with Indigenous teachings, values, and worldview, The Freedom Method™ supports clients in reconnecting with their identity, trusting their intuition, and reclaiming their power. This creates ripple effects not just within individuals, but across families, workplaces, and communities; strengthening internal capacity and paving the way for generational wellness, leadership, and prosperity.
What core principles guide your approach to mentorship and leadership training for Indigenous women, entrepreneurs, and executives?
As a second-generation residential school survivor, I carry a deep awareness of the ongoing impacts of colonization. This work is rooted in the knowing that true generational wealth, joy, and well-being begin with inner healing – what I call the internal capacity building.
Our vision is bold yet simple: Indigenous Success and Prosperity will no longer be a distant dream or conversation, but a lived reality. Our five pillars are:
- Spirit (connection within and above)
- Body (nervous system regulation)
- Divine Shadow Alchemy (subconscious reprogramming)
- Quantum Identity (embodiment of the authentic self)
- Community & Connection (the ripple effect)
At Freedom School Co., we believe that when one Indigenous person heals, entire communities heal. Through mentorship, workshops, and our certification program, we resource Indigenous women, leaders, executives and organizations with the tools to break cycles of colonization and reclaim their power, identity, and prosperity.
Giving back is at the heart of everything we do. The Cycle Breakers Movement is not only about individual transformation – it’s about strengthening cultural sovereignty, fostering self-determination, and planting seeds of healing for the next 7 generations.
As a closing thought, what message or advice would you like to share with small business owners looking to empower Indigenous talent in their organizations?
I believe that at our core, we all want to feel seen, valued, and understood. When Indigenous employees experience this level of recognition and safety, morale rises, motivation increases, and their natural gifts have space to shine. This is the heart of The Cycle Breakers Movement, especially within organizational and corporate spaces.
If you want to empower Indigenous talent, start by creating environments where people feel respected for who they are, not just the role they fill. We strive to curb tokenism by prioritizing emotional safety, active & compassionate listening, and a commitment to learning beyond surface-level inclusion. Invest in the development of your Indigenous employees, not as a checkbox, but as a genuine commitment to their growth, wellbeing, and leadership.
When organizations embrace this approach, they don’t just support individual employees, they contribute to generational healing, stronger communities, and a future where Indigenous talent can truly thrive.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Indigenous SME Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
