She goes by the name Nakuset, a spirit name given to her by an aboriginal elder.
The name means "sun," and those who know her say the name fits her role at the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal.
“She's always in a good mood and it always lightens the room when she comes in,” said Marti Miller, the clinical coordinator at the centre.
A place of refuge for aboriginal women who need a temporary home and a fresh start, the centre has been serving the community for 25 years.
Executive director Nakuset is passionate about connecting with those in need, and said she's always looking for new ways to reach out.
To mark the 25th anniversary, the shelter celebrated with a fundraising gala aiming to collect $25,000 to buy furniture for a transitional housing project.
Though every client is different, they all share a common problem: trouble finding safe and affordable housing.
“That's why the shelter is trying to build a transitional house, so when they've done their 12 weeks here, they move into a beautiful apartment that's fully furnished. It would have all the services that you would have here -- the elders, the therapists -- plus a training component either to go back to school or go into the workforce. That way when they're ready to leave, they're really ready to leave,” said Nakuset.
That's not all: Nakuset also has a vision for Cabot Square, a well-known meeting spot for aboriginals struggling with substance abuse.
“They're always going to be there, but how can we help them?” she said.
Addiction workers from the shelter already visit the park to offer food and moral support, while Montreal police officers patrol the area to keep things under control.
Nakuset wants to turn a gazebo in the square into a permanent 24-hour office for aboriginal outreach workers.
“(There would be) someone that will take you to all these different resources and services to show them a different way of life and support them,” she said.
Despite expecting a baby in eight weeks, but she says her upcoming maternity leave won't keep her away from the shelter.
True to form, she plans to come in once a week, just to make sure everything is still running smoothly.
Despite her ambitious projects and dedication, Nakuset gives plenty of credit to others.
“What I do is I surround myself with genius people, so if I don't have the answer, I just consult with them and then they help out with an idea and then we make it happen,” she said.
Miller said credit should be given to Nakuset.
“It's very nice to hear, but she doesn't take enough (credit) for herself. Really, this place wouldn't run at all if she wasn't here. She's the backbone of the shelter and she does such a fantastic job,” she said.
