Breaking Ground, Making Waves: A Conversation with Cheryl Gehue on Indigenous Leadership, Reconciliation, and Sustainability
In our latest Breaking Ground, Making Waves conversation, we had the opportunity to speak with Cheryl Gehue, a Mi’kmaq woman from the Sipekne’katik First Nation in Nova Scotia. Cheryl’s career is a testament to the power of leadership, advocacy, and relationship-building in advancing reconciliation, sustainability, and Indigenous representation.
A Journey Rooted in Relationships
Cheryl’s path to leadership has been shaped by her true commitment to creating strong relationships. Having served on her community’s council, worked as an Indigenous advisor for the City of Halifax, and now leading Indigenous relations at Clearwater Seafood, she has dedicated her career to bridging communities and advancing Indigenous rights. Her guiding principle? Relationships are the foundation for progress.
“If you have a really good relationship within any of these job structures that I’ve been in, I’ve been able to do them really effectively,” Cheryl shared. “It’s truly about making that connection and figuring out how we can jointly advance things.” We couldn’t agree more.
From Policy Analyst to Political Leader
Cheryl’s journey into politics was unexpected. Fresh out of university, she secured an internship at the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs—an opportunity she initially thought was beyond her reach. “I had no idea about all these political issues in the Indigenous sector, but I told them I’d work really hard, and I was a fast learner.” That perseverance paid off, and Cheryl spent years working behind the scenes as a policy analyst before stepping into the political arena herself.
In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she ran for office and was elected to her community’s council. It was a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience, where she saw firsthand the importance of collaboration in crisis management. “It really took a whole community to get us through those times,” she recalled, emphasizing the role of volunteers, health workers, and council members in protecting vulnerable populations, especially elders.
Indigenous Women in Politics
Recognizing the need for greater Indigenous female representation in politics, Cheryl played a key role in establishing a women’s campaign school. The initiative provided training and support for Indigenous women looking to enter political leadership. The impact was immediate—two participants were elected to their community councils, and another ran for federal office. “Women should be at every decision-making table,” she affirmed.
Sustainability and Indigenous Knowledge
As Director of Indigenous Relations at Clearwater Seafood, Cheryl now focuses on the unique challenge of integrating Indigenous knowledge into corporate sustainability efforts. She emphasized the Mi’kmaq principle of Nimluta’ql, meaning “we take what we need and we give back.”
“There’s a lot of traditional knowledge that can be woven into sustainability work,” she said. “It’s not about reinventing the wheel—it’s about finding the right people with that knowledge and collaborating.”
Lessons in Leadership and Balance
For Cheryl, leadership isn’t just about advocacy—it’s also about self-care. “If you don’t take care of yourself—physically, emotionally—you’re not doing justice for the people you represent.” She stresses the importance of setting boundaries, making time for family, and staying grounded in personal values.
Looking Ahead
As Indigenous economic reconciliation becomes a growing priority, Cheryl sees exciting opportunities on the horizon. “We’re moving beyond social reconciliation and into economic reconciliation,” she explained, pointing to successful Indigenous-led businesses as models for self-sufficiency.
Her advice to aspiring Indigenous leaders? “Find balance, build relationships, and never stop learning.”
Final Thoughts
From her work in government to her role in corporate sustainability, Cheryl Gehue is breaking ground and making waves in every space she enters. Her story is one of resilience, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to community.
To hear the full conversation, you can find the latest episode of Breaking Ground, Making Waves here. Until next time, let’s keep pushing for sustainable and inclusive progress.
