Cheryl Matthew, PhD

Experience

Cheryl is from the Simpcw First Nation and resides on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam). She is mother to 3 amazing children who are her inspiration and dog mom to Kobe her precocious chihuahua. Cheryl has over twenty years of experience in research and management positions. She received her PhD in Anthropology from Carleton University, and her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Royal Roads University, and Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University in Anthropology and Sociology. Cheryl has recently worked as a Research Associate leading the SFU Sea, Land & Sky Indigenization Initiative; Visiting Assistant Professor with Western Washington University; and as the Senior Research Consultation & Referrals Manager for Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw, and as Executive Director for the Qweqwetsin Family & Healing Lodge Society. Previous to that she spent over a decade with the federal government including as the Manager for Child & Family Jurisdiction (ISC) and the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program (Service Canada). Cheryl maintains a strong connection to community through her family and work and believes in the connection between healing and land stewardship as our most important relationship is for land, water, air, fish & wildlife protection.