Shanley Spence is a Nihithaw and Anishinaabe woman who was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A member of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation on her mother’s side, and Lake St. Martin First Nation on her father’s, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development Studies from the University of Winnipeg.
She began her hoop dancing career at the age of 13 and has been graced with the opportunity to perform at a variety of nationwide and international events, daycare and educational institutions of all ages, conferences and interactive workshops with the Walking Wolf Singers and Dancers, Folklorama, and independently.
She has mentored in multiple community organizations and hoop dance instructed with the Sacred Seven Healthy Relationships Program, The City of Winnipeg and the Manitoba Youth Centre.
She has also served as a cultural ambassador, hosting the DOTC First Nations Pavilion in Winnipeg, and presenting motivational speaking to a wide variety of audiences.
She is also a prominent youth member of Empowering Indigenous Youth in Governance in Leadership and has been a working youth member at the World Indigenous Business Forum for the past four years.
Shanley’s beliefs and passions include the importance of education, music, community development, international travel and staying active within her community with a focus on youth empowerment, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), mental health, Indigenous activism, and basic human rights.
Her participation within her community has earned her the Top 40 Under 40 Manitoba Award for 2017, a Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award for Artistic Performance, the community champion award for volunteerism, the Anita Neville Member of Parliament Award, second runner up for Miss Indian World 2017 and other recognition from her community.
Shanley aspires to continue her growth by remaining active in her community, engaging in dialogue to share, educate and learn and to empower herself and others to become agents of change.
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