About
Who Am I
I am a proud Dakota woman from Long Plain First Nation, grounded in a lineage of strong, outspoken Indigenous women whose courage and conviction continue to shape my leadership.
My roots are not separate from my work — they are the foundation of it.
The Foundation of My Work
I also carry a personal truth that informs my work in a profound way.
I come from a family impacted by residential school, and I carry that lived experience myself. It has shaped how I understand systems, power, and people.
But I am intentional about how I hold that story.
A difficult past does not equal broken. Trauma is not the end of the story.
I believe in generational resiliency — the strength passed down through those who came before us. The work I do is, in part, about helping others reconnect to that strength and lead from a place of grounded confidence.
“The legacy is not only what we survived — it is the strength we carry forward.”
What I Believe
I believe in leading from the strength of kindness — not as softness, but as clarity, courage, and respect in action.
I believe that sharing knowledge is a responsibility. When we teach, mentor, and guide others, we strengthen not only the individual, but the workplace and the community as a whole.
Leadership, at its best, is not about power — it is about building others up so they can stand strong alongside you.
Beyond the Work
Alongside my consulting work, I am an artist and keynote speaker. Both are extensions of the same belief: that storytelling, truth-telling, and human connection are essential to meaningful leadership.
My Work Today
I am the founder of Woods Harder Consulting, where I focus on helping organizations lead with clarity, accountability, and respect.
My work centers on:
- Leadership development
- Labour relations strategy
- Respectful workplace practices
- Organizational culture transformation
My approach is direct, practical, and deeply relational.
I create space for honest conversations — the kind that move organizations forward, not just maintain the status quo.
“Clarity is kindness. Accountability is respect. Leadership requires both.”
Executive Experience & Leadership
With more than 25 years of experience in labour relations, human resources, and executive leadership, I bring a rare combination of frontline negotiation expertise, senior governance experience, and deeply values-driven practice.
My career began in labour relations, negotiating over 20 collective agreements as a National Servicing Representative with Canadian Union of Public Employees.
I further strengthened my expertise in employment law and decision-making as a Board Member with the Employment Insurance Board of Referees (2009–2013), contributing to fair, balanced, and well-reasoned rulings in employment insurance appeals.
I went on to hold senior leadership roles within First Nations governance and health systems, including Director of Human Resources for Long Plain First Nation and Arrowhead Development Corporation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I stepped into the role of Director of Health Services, leading a team of 47 staff and advising Chief and Council through a critical public health crisis — where steady, values-driven leadership was not optional, it was essential.
Governance & System-Level Impact
I have had the honour of serving in provincial board leadership and am proud to be, to my knowledge, the first Indigenous woman to serve as Chairperson of a Regional Health Authority in Manitoba — a distinction I held twice.
I served as Chair of the Regional Health Authority – Central Manitoba and later of Southern Health–Santé Sud, where I led complex system integration, supported executive transitions, and championed equity-driven policy for Indigenous and rural communities.
“The women who came before me made this possible — and it is my honour to carry that forward.”