Charlene Lafreniere is the Vice President of Indigenous Health at Shared Health and a proud Red River Métis citizen.

As a collaborative leader, Charlene has spent much of her career building relationships among organizations, communities and Indigenous people. Prior to joining Shared Health, Charlene was the Chief Indigenous Officer with Northern Health Region (NHR). While in that role, Charlene co-led the work around the Joint Declaration and Action Framework to Eliminate Indigenous Racism and all forms of discrimination, the development and implementation of the Addressing Indigenous Specific Racism policy, and the introduction of positions to support the inclusion of traditional medicine. Charlene also held a joint role with NHR and Shared Health, where she supported provincial initiatives, such as the Disrupt and Dismantle Racism Steering Committee and the Provincial Indigenous Health Operating Model.

Charlene has served in a variety of leadership, policy and planning roles for organizations across Canada and in Manitoba’s North. She brings extensive knowledge and experience required to lead system change that will create culturally safe spaces for First Nation, Inuit and Métis people accessing care, as well as for Indigenous people who are committed to working in the provincial health system.

Prior to joining the health sector, Charlene served as a Director with Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc., was a Councilor for the City of Thompson, and a Director with the University College of the North. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts in Leadership, Executive Leadership specialization from Royal Roads University, where she is currently an Associate Faculty. Charlene has completed a number of continuing education courses and certificates, including the IDEO U Design Thinking Foundations Certificate, and is a lifelong learner.

In her VP role with the provincial health authority, Charlene’s priority is to guide the health system in implementing the Provincial Indigenous Health Operating Model, which encompasses the work of providing holistic, culturally safe care. This care is provided by the whole organization—all of us working together in a good way to create a more sustainable health system.