April 14, 2026 | By Lisa Hamilton
The Wachiay Friendship Centre welcomed Katherine Strongwind as their new executive director in March.
“After an extensive search, we are thrilled that Katherine has joined our organization, and we look forward to working together with her to strengthen community relationships, develop a strategic plan, and continue to build the capacity of this amazing centre,” said board chair Sheila Wasacase.
“Not only is she a mother and grandmother, but she is also an accomplished spokesperson, entrepreneur, and advocate for Indigenous Peoples. We are excited to explore new possibilities with Katherine at the helm, and we are so grateful for our current team for their work in keeping the centre running smoothly,” Wasacase said.
Strongwind has an extensive resume that combines direct experience in child welfare and social services with an administrative and economic development background. Strongwind brings her own experience as a child of the Sixties Scoop.
The Sixties Scoop was a federal practice that removed an estimated 20,000 Indigenous children from their homes, families, and cultures, placing them in predominantly non-Indigenous households across Canada and the U.S.A. This policy began in the 1950s and lasted until the 1980s.
Strongwind headed out west for the first time in 2012, with her daughters joining her on the coast soon after. With a desire to return to school, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing and management from Vancouver Island University.
After receiving her degree, Strongwind returned to Manitoba where she worked with several organizations, including the Southern Chiefs Organization, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and the Manitoba NDP.
“I kind of made my rounds there, and then I was offered an opportunity with the Treaty One Nations building their secretariat, which was a huge initiative,” Strongwind.
Strongwind had the chance to return to B.C. as the Songhees Nation’s executive director.
“I jumped at the opportunity, because I really wanted to come back to the Island and be with my daughters here,” she said. “And then I ended up working with the government of B.C. and the minister’s office, first forestry, then jobs, economic development, and innovation.” Strongwind also made time to squeeze in her own consulting business while taking up residence in Sooke.
It’s Strongwind’s personal, educational, and career experiences that make her well positioned as Wachiay’s executive director, as well as “having a really good understanding of socio-economic conditions that many of our folks still struggle with, and sometimes at no fault of their own,” she explained.
“I think that having some lived experience as well, then working in child welfare and social services, and then laddering into the administrative piece has been this organic transition. So, I’m really glad to be able to use some of those skills and my background here at Wachiay. I think we’ll do some great things,” Strongwind said.
As a Sixties Scoop survivor, Strongwind understands how important it is to keep children connected to their community of origin and culture, which fits well with Wachiay’s Roots program, a joint initiative with the Ministry of Childhood and Family Development to help children in care identify their ancestry, family, and community as early in their lives as possible.
In fact, Strongwind founded her own national not-for-profit organization, the 60s Scoop Legacy of Canada.
“We know there are record numbers of Indigenous children in care right now that are going to be looking for that type of support, to reunify, keeping them connected to their siblings and their extended families and communities,” she said.
Strongwind is looking forward to contributing to the many programs Wachiay offers, such as law and government benefits advocacy, as well as getting the centre’s new commercial kitchen up and running for community rentals.
Between working in the Comox Valley and returning to Sooke most weekends, Strongwind is somehow managing to squeeze in a master’s degree from Royal Roads University that focuses on Indigenous economic development and innovation.
As Wachiay’s executive director, Strongwind is excitied for Wachiay to collaborate with other organizations in the Comox Valley. “We have an all-woman team of senior managers and board members, and it’s been just a pleasure to get to know everybody and the general community. Everybody has been so welcoming and helpful,” she said.
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