Brooke Blanchard

Originally from King’s Point in Hall’s Bay, Brooke is a self-identifying Mi’kmaw woman and a member of Qalipu First Nation. Living and working in St. John’s as a registered nurse at the Janeway, Brooke has also been a long-time member of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), serving in various roles. As a part of the NWAC Youth Council, she has learned by engaging and connecting with other Indigenous women and youth from across Canada. Her interests focus on Indigenous healthcare, access to education and employment, and MMIWG2S+.

She loves building personal connections and listening to people’s stories, which is the foundation of her current knowledge. Growing up, she quickly recognized that many Indigenous people in Newfoundland and Labrador feel as though they may not have permission to share their heritage with others. Later in life, she came to understand that this is a direct result of colonialism and the cultural oppression that results from it. This realization has given her courage to express themselves while staying true to who they are. 

The lack of understanding that she personally experienced led her to walking her own path towards embracing her Mi’kmaw identity, sharing the stories from her home community, and helping others. She feels spiritually pulled to advocate for herself, her family, and her ancestors to build more awareness amongst the public on Indigenous histories and experiences in Newfoundland and Labrador. Brooke uses a people-based approach to learning and listening. While she considers herself at an early stage of their cultural journey, she is open to learning and understands that humility is the key to building strong relationships.