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.
SOURCE: https://comoxvalleyrecord.com/2026/04/14/katherine-strongwind-appointed-executive-director-at-the-wachiay-friendship-centre/
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