Charlotte Winters-Fost

Charlotte Winters-Fost is an Inuit Elder from Hopedale, Nunatsiavut. After moving to Happy Valley–Goose Bay as a child and then travelling throughout the United States as a young adult, Charlotte moved to St. John’s at the age of 20 and began studying to become a teacher. While raising a family, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Special Education, both from Memorial University, before embarking on a teaching career in special needs that spanned twenty-seven years. Charlotte retired to South River in 2009 and splits her time equally with her grandchildren in Calgary, Makkovik, and Mount Pearl.

Charlotte has been an active member of the urban Indigenous community in St. John’s for more than four decades, advocating for a more inclusive City and working to promote truth and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. She played a leading role in founding First Light, then known as the St. John’s Native Friendship Centre, in 1983. She went on to serve the organization in a variety of capacities, including as a long-time board member and as a former President of the organization. In March 2020, Charlotte was named the inaugural recipient of First Voice’s Indigenous Advocate Award.