What does it mean to belong?

“You belong here.” These were the words that I had longed not only to hear, but to feel for as long as I could remember. Perhaps you can relate? These three words reflect the most basic of human desires, that of belonging. As a person of misattributed parentage, this longing never left me. However, just over a decade ago, I learned the context of why this longing ran so deep.

Meaghan Carriere began writing her first book, You Belong Here - An Expressive and Mindful Journey Through Misattributed Parentage, in 2021; and published in September of 2026. In it she shares how the deception and intergenerational trauma of familial separation and misattributed parentage affected her and others in the community. Offering a sense of hope, a path to recovery, new skills, and invitation to community. With an emphasis on embodiment, Meaghan invites people to use art, play, nature, and human connection to express and heal.
In this talk, Meaghan will share a bit about her personal story, the mistakes she made, and what she learned about beginning again after discovery. She explores the meaning of belonging, and the power of establishing a creative practice.
Sadly, the practice of hiding one’s parentage still persists today, with an estimated 1/20 people experiencing this devastating, disorienting discovery. Meaghan hopes that by raising awareness of the harms, people will begin to realize the benefits of openness.

This talk is for anyone who desires to understand the MPE experience more deeply.

Meaghan Carriere was born in Saskatchewan, Canada in the 80’s, despite her mom living in BC. She travelled out of province in an effort to hide Meaghan from her birth father. Once born, she filed for her birth certificate using her stepfather’s name in place of his. This secret was kept until Meaghan’s 33rd birthday, when on the cusp of becoming adoptive parents, she and her partner were told the truth. This caused great disorientation and set in motion a decade long journey of recovery.
Since that time Meaghan has become a mental health professional who works with youth, families, and the MPE and adoption community. She is a multi-disciplinary creative who believes deeply in the healing power of art, play, nature, and connection.
In September 2026, Meaghan published her first book titled: You Belong Here - An Expressive and Mindful Journey Through Misattributed Parentage. In it, she details much of her personal and professional experiences related to being an NPE. She aims to lay the foundation for hope, empowerment, and belief in possibility.

You can learn more about her work here: www.linktr.ee/irrota.studio