Shawna Yamkovy
Shawna is a member of the Łútsël K’é Dene First Nation, located on the shores of Great Slave Lake in the beautiful Northwest Territories. Shawna is a proud Dënesųłı̨né/Ukrainian raised in Edmonton, with a strong connection to her family. She has 20 years of experience in Corporate Management/Finance and operations with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. As well, she has volunteered with various Indigenous organizations, currently as an executive board member working at the grassroots levels to supporting and advocating for and representing all urban Indigenous peoples regardless of status under the Indian Act. Shawna obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology in 2015, through Concordia University of Edmonton, as well in 2022 obtained the Master of Arts in Global Leadership Degree through Royal Roads University (RRU); with a focus on Indigenous language revitalization and creating strategies to retain and rejuvenate the Dënesųłı̨né (ᑌᓀᓲᒢᕄᓀ), Dëne Yati (ᑌᓀ ᔭᕱ). Currently Shawna is continuing her research on Indigenous language revitalization through a land-based focus, an Indigenized and environmentally focused approach, one which is a culturally expansive of the physical, spiritual, and mental connection to the land. This project is a heartfelt desire to give back to her maternal community and her children, grandchildren, and future generations, supporting strategies to retain the language which is spoken for generations. Her late mom, Emerence, attended Residential school from age 4-18, yet proudly retained her Dënesųłı̨né language and culture, one which she lovingly shared, as she could. The path to reconciliation, continues within this academic journey.
