Jen Charlie

Jen Charlie, Sulqtentunaaht, is a proud member of Cowichan Tribes, grounded in her Quw'utsun identity and a lifelong commitment to her people. Raised by her parents, John and Barb Charlie, she grew up witnessing her father’s leadership in the community. From an early age, she learned the values of generosity and cultural practice through time spent on the land, harvesting seafood, hunting, and visiting with Elders.

Jen brings 20 years of management experience across a range of organizations, including the Hul'q'umi'num Treaty Group, Tsewultun Health Centre, and the Education and Social Development departments of Cowichan Tribes. She also served as Office Manager for the 2008 North American Indigenous Games. In each role, she has focused on building opportunities for Cowichan members and keeping community members informed and connected, both on and off reserve.

She has a background in psychology, conflict resolution, and accounting through Cowichan Secondary and university studies, and is currently completing her Indigenous MBA at Simon Fraser University.

After receiving a kidney transplant in 2017, Jen began supporting others navigating kidney failure and dialysis. She stepped into this work after seeing firsthand that there was no Indigenous advocacy available during her own experience.

Outside of work, Jen spends time on the water fishing, enjoys movies with her family, and runs her own small business. She is the proud mother of two sons, Ayden and Thomas, and is known for her steady, principled advocacy for her Nation.