Darlene Powder has already given well over a decade of her life to the YWCA NWT, and doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.
"I think it's going to be hard for the YWCA to get rid of me," she said, laughing. "I'm going to be here for a while... I'm not looking for retirement at all."
Originally from Saskatchewan, Powder has been working for YWCA NWT in Yellowknife since 2010.
She got her start with the organization as a staff member at the Alison McAteer House family violence shelter, and later joined the organization's transitional housing program. She also had a major role in starting the organization's Indigenous mental wellness program, which she has led since 2020. This past January, she became the organization's first in-house Elder.
One of Powder's primary responsibilities in her latest role is to provide guidance on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada鈥檚 calls to action. However, she does far more than that.
"I do a lot of healing circles and taking clients out on the land," she said. "We do healing circles, sharing circles, a lot of sewing, beading, sometimes just one-on-ones. If someone wants to just talk, I'm there. [I'm involved in] all different programs. I also work with the moms and babies or the families... There's all kinds of things that I'm doing."
Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay, executive director of the YWCA NWT, spoke highly of the impact Powder has had during her time with the organization, calling her "a really good support."
"We're working right now on developing some action plans that we want to do within the organization to implement [the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada鈥檚] calls for action," Dumbuya-Sesay said. "We've always incorporated some of the calls for action since they came out, but now we're just developing the actual document, setting timelines and milestones. Darlene is helping with that. We rely on her in terms of advice, of what's the right way to do things from an Indigenous perspective.
"Darlene has also been helping us with the safe homes project," she added. "We currently run two safe homes. One is in Fort Good Hope and one is in Fort Simpson. Part of that is we check in with the women, we check in with the community. Darlene has travelled to Fort Good Hope and Fort Simpson when we go and do regular check-ins on the community."
While some people might be considering retirement at Powder's age 鈥� particularly with so much responsibility 鈥� she is motivated to keep giving back to others because "it feels good" to help people.
"At first I felt like, am I really doing this? Is it really helping?" she said, looking back on her first days with the YWCA NWT. "I second-guessed myself sometimes because it seemed like I wasn't putting in enough, but I was. I am.
"I'm there for [YWCA NWT clients]. Sometimes I'll stay a little overtime from work because there's things that I really want to do and get done. I want to make sure everything's in order."
Dumbuya-Sesay is grateful for Powder's work, and eager to retain her services for as long as possible.
"Personally, I just enjoy being around her," the executive director said. "She has a good energy, good spirit. The clients make the choice to come and sit down and talk to her. They make the choice to come and participate in the programs because of the energy she brings. She's very knowledgeable, she's very calm and very strong in a way where you feel like, when you're talking to her, you feel supported. She's very caring. That's what pulls me to her, personally, and I also believe that's what pulls the clients to her as well."
