Xhastin
(Yvonne Jack)
Xhastin, also known as Yvonne Jack, is a proud member of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. Drawing upon her teachings as a First Nations woman and experiences of resiliency in residential school, Xhastin has created a unique healing space that reflects her vision and years of work in family and health services.
With a background in Traditional Medicines, First Nations Health, and as a Certified First Nations Doula, Xhastin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. She has also worked as a Healthy Families Worker, Traditional Counsellor, First Nations Outreach and After Care Worker, and is Certified in Community Health & Social Services and Cultural Competence & Cultural Safety in Health Services. Xhastin is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and offering a safe and nurturing space for healing and growth.
Helen Gartner
Helen Gartner is a Cree First Nation Elder, raised in Northern Alberta in Treaty 8 territory. Helen has called Whitehorse Yukon her home since 1973.
In 1975 she began her lifelong career in the helping field working with children and youth. She was able to draw on her personal experience and better advocate for the children under her care. Helen then moved on to Kaushee’s Place, Youth Services Department for the Yukon Government and then Hospice Yukon.
There, she volunteered and spent time travelling to First Nations communities to help those coping with crisis. In that same year Helen transferred to the Continuing Care Branch to undertake First Nations Liaison Work. Much of the work was self-directed. Helen drew on her traditional beliefs and spirituality to help guide her in this new role.
Having recently retired, Helen is busier than ever filling the role of Ceremonial Cook and Cultural Support Worker at Xhastin’s Healing Journey.
Jinkhûsíyí
(Sarah Johnston Smith)
Sarah was born and raised in a traditional lifestyle growing up in the community of Teslin. She is from the Yanyeidi (Wolf) Clan and is a member of the Teslin Tlingit First Nation.
Sarah practices traditional art in the form of moose hide tanning, beading, sewing, tufting and Raven’s Tail weaving.
She is also a traditional song carrier and writer as well as an active dance member of Kwänlin Dághàalhaan K’e dance group.
April Schultz
April is the newest worker of Xhastin’s Healing Journey. She is the daughter of Xhastin and her father being Ed Schultz from Little Salmon Carmacks.
She grew up engrossed in the traditional lifestyle, going to both her fishing and hunting camps for her adolescent summers ever since she was a baby. She worked a variety of jobs since finishing high school in 2014.
Later in her life, she reconnected with her traditional knowledge she had acquired in her formative years. With new-found confidence, she decided to join Xhastin’s Healing Journey as a mentee and to continue her spiritual journey in hopes of one day gaining enough traditional knowledge to continue this work.