At our inaugural Together in Healing presented by Scotiabank, we proudly recognized Shelley Lampreau, Health Director for Simpcw First Nation and Vice-President of the First Nations Health Directors Association, as the recipient of our Health Champion Award—celebrating her powerful leadership rooted in cultural safety, community care, and compassion.

Shelley’s decades of dedication have shaped First Nations-led health services that reflect the strength, resilience, and voices of her people. Her approach to leadership and advocacy has transformed systems, built trust, and inspired those around her to lead with empathy and integrity.

We asked Shelley to share with us her leadership journey, lessons learned, and the guiding principles that continue to shape her work today.

Leadership in Community Health

Over the years, Shelley has learned from many great leaders, each shaping how she approaches community care and decision-making.

“I’ve had the luxury of being surrounded by great leaders who taught me to always be part of the solution,” she says. “To use my voice to create positive change, listen to the people, and lead with kindness and compassion.”

Her leadership philosophy is grounded in trauma-informed practice and community readiness. “It’s important to make decisions based on where the community is at,” she explains. “Our volunteer Health Board, established in 1999, plays a key role in providing guidance and community perspective. I also believe in empowering staff—our subject matter experts—to have input in the decision-making process.”

Advocating for Equity in Health Care

Shelley’s advocacy for equitable on-reserve health and wellness funding comes from lived experience.

“As a First Nations woman, I’ve experienced significant trauma in the health care system. Now I’m in a position to create and influence systemic change,” she shares.

Her focus has been on bringing services closer to home and ensuring that quality care is delivered in culturally safe, inclusive environments. The changes she is most proud of influencing are:

• Ensuring community nurse wages are equal to BC Nurses’ Union rates
• Securing nurse retention bonuses
• Negotiating for six full-time Primary Care Network positions, including a Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Nurse, two Clinical Counsellors, a Health Navigator, and a Psychiatric Nurse
• Negotiating funding for a new health facility
• Investing in a Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) machine, with community nurses trained to use it
• Collaborating to develop, design, and implement the Le7 te Melamen Health Society for the Secwepemc Nation
• Contributing technical advice and advocacy to the First Nations Health Authority and the First Nations Health Council through her work with the First Nations Health Directors Association

Perhaps most importantly, Shelley never shies away from the hard conversations. “Starting discussions on the most challenging topics—those that deeply affect individuals and families—is essential,” she says.

Leading Through Crisis

Shelley’s leadership was tested through COVID-19 and during times of family crisis response. Yet even in the most intense moments, she remains deeply grounded.

“I represent my family, my community, and my Nation. My actions impact all of the above,” she reflects.

Her background in Critical Incident Stress Management, emergency response, and trauma training helps her navigate these moments with compassion and clarity. “I have to be aware of my own trauma and grief and not carry what doesn’t belong to me,” she explains. “I can be empathetic, but I can’t take on everyone’s pain—it would consume me.”

Resilience, she says, comes from teamwork, debriefing, and self-care. “I allow myself to have a human response. I’m not afraid to show my emotions and be vulnerable. Cultural practices like smudging, connecting with the land, and reaching out to cultural leaders help keep me balanced.”

Bringing Cultural Knowledge into the Health System

Cultural safety and trauma-informed care are central to Shelley’s approach. In Simpcw, this means reshaping health services to reflect First Nations ways of healing.

She describes working with the community counsellor to develop an experiential model of therapy—one that happens on the land, in the kitchen, or while picking berries and canning. “Healing happens in connection, not confinement,” she says.

Her team uses healing circles to create space for courageous conversations, collaborates closely with the Language and Culture team, and provides traditional medicines and gift packages to band members. Every gathering begins with Secwepemctsin prayers.

Words of Advice

If she could speak to her younger self, Shelley says she’d remind her to lead with gentleness.

“Keep your voice and your message soft. All things can be said in a respectful manner, with kindness and compassion.”

Shelley Lampreau’s leadership is a model of what it means to serve with heart—grounded in truth, culture, and community. Her work embodies the spirit of the Health Champion Award and our shared vision of self-determined health and wellness for First Nations people and communities in BC. Watch her acceptance video here.

Stay tuned in the new year as we open nominations for the 2026 First Nations Health & Wellness Awards, where we’ll continue to honour and uplift community leaders who are making a difference every day.