🌟 Meet Shantelle, the WLC’s new Women’s Coordinator! 🌟
Shantelle is passionate about creating spaces for women to connect, share, and grow. In her new role, she’ll focus on mental health, cultural gatherings, and fostering empowerment through shared stories, meals, and traditions.
Could you tell me a little bit about who you are and where you’re from?
Hey my name is Shantelle Voyageur from Victoria BC. My late dad Carl Wamiss comes from Kingcome Inlet Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw . My mother is Judy Henry, she comes from Pauquachin First Nation, W̱SÁNEĆ.
What kind of work will you be doing as the Women’s Coordinator?
As the Women’s Coordinator, I’ll be planning programs and gathering women together. I want to focus on mental health and just sharing meals, stories, history, the language, and just being together. I’ve been told that it’s been some time since we’ve been able to do these gatherings post-COVID, so everyone’s looking forward to gathering more frequently. I am happy to be stepping into this new position as the Women’s Coordinator.
What kind of background or experience do you bring to this position?
I am excited to be working with the W̱SÁNEĆ communities as my past experience I’ve worked within my community and off reserve. I have experience coordinating and facilitating events and community gatherings through the CCP (Comprehensive Community Planning) for Pauquachin. I was also the summer program supervisor for youth.
What kind of impact do you hope to have during your time with the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council?
I personally struggle with mental health, so it is pretty sentimental to me to be able just to surround myself with other people, to be able to inspire women to get out of their comfort zones and be more connected because a lot of us tend to go through our struggles and feel alone. And I really just want to get that connection again and our femininity and be able to feel more empowered together.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I like to spend a lot of time with my nieces and nephews. Other than that, I live on the waterfront in Sidney. I like to spend a lot of downtime at home.
