Cheryl Rule
Vice-Chief for the Nstla’tko, Coldwater Indian Band in the territory of the Scw’xmx (People of the Creeks) Nłeʔképmx people Cheryl's Nłeʔképmxcin name is Syəmyịm (Rainbow), which was gifted to her by her grandfather, Peter Bob. Cheryl descends from a long line of Nłeʔképmx ancestry, she spent much of her early life hunting, fishing, and harvesting medicinal and food plants with her family. This instilled in her a deep love and respect for her people and the Tmix (the land).
Currently, Cheryl is the Chairperson of the Coldwater School Education Committee and is also the designated Negotiation-Representative for Nstla’tko, Coldwater Indian Band. She previously, worked as the District Support and First Nations Support Worker for School District #58 (Nicola-Similkameen) for nine years. Cheryl is also the former business owner of The Cave Clothing and Lionz Lash Studio located in her traditional territory of the Scw’xmx.
Cheryl holds a House of the Moon Certificate, Indigenous Negotiation Training Certificate and a Calling our Spirits Home: Indigenous Women in Leadership Certificate from the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity located in Alberta. Cheryl is a strong MMIWG2S+ advocate in her community and has organized MMIWG2S+ Community Awareness Walks and many other activities for her First Nation.
Cheryl is strongly committed to:
- Governance, human resources, and policy development;
- language and culture/traditional teachings from Indigenous Knowledge Keepers / Elders;
- raising awareness of all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls (children/youth), 2SLGBTQQIA+, and Men/Boys;
- healing for Residential School Survivors; and
- advocating for children in care and preventative programming for vulnerable youth and young adults in the current drug crisis.
Cheryl’s Mission:
A trustworthy, transparent, and strong voice for human rights, universal dignity, environmental justice, compassion, and the rights of Indigenous people.