Member
Odelle Pike is one of nineteen children who grew up in a strong traditional Mi’kmaw family in St. George’s, NL. A mother, wife, sister, auntie and mentor to countless people in her community and throughout the province. Odelle spends every minute of every day working on behalf of the community and volunteering her time for the things like cultural revitalization and sustainability, mental health and advocating on behalf of the women and families impacted by the MMIWG2S+ crisis.
Odelle is the current President of the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network, the founder of the Bay St. George Cultural Circle, (present day People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Centre), Director on the Ulnooweg Development Corporation, and a respected Mi’kmaw Elder who is often called on to conduct healing circles, sweat lodges and lead ceremony that allows people and communities to use traditional ways as a means to deal with situations that are impacting them in a negative way.
Odelle is an instrumental advocate and voice for Indigenous women and members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community facing gender-based violence and works tirelessly in support of creating meaningful change and building the capacity of women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities through economic development and entrepreneurship.
Over the years, Odelle has been honored to be recognized and awarded the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Governor General Sovereign Award for Indigenous Leadership, The Ulnooweg Lifetime Achievement Award, NLOWE Visionary Award, Western Newfoundland Volunteer of the year Award and Skate Canada National Volunteer of the Year Award and most recent was recognized by Memorial University by receiving and Honorary Degree in Law.
Following her retirement in 2011, Odelle has taken a more active role in serving her community and has become a full-time volunteer, reporting to the office of NAWN, working full time hours in the capacity of community leader and change maker. She plays an instrumental role as one of six Elder advisors to the board of Empowering Indigenous Women for Stronger Communities, and is an active member of the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Steering Committee, as well as Elder on the Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation.
Seeing the positive outcomes achieved by the people she has supported; she considers her greatest reward.
