Celebrating Goldie Swanson’s 27+Years of Service

“A strong person.”

“A great coworker.”

“Very, very helpful.”

“Reliable and compassionate.”

“Has the community and the Elders at heart at all times.”

“Takes care of so many people without ever breaking a sweat.”

These are the phrases the team at Niislaa Naay Healing House Society uses to describe Goldie Swanson – the staunch supporter of the community who has served at Niislaa Naay for over twenty years. In honor of her service, this article celebrates her and her many contributions.

When Goldie – an Old Massett-born member of the Haida Nation, belonging to the  Yaghulaanaas raven clan – first started working at Niislaa Naay over twenty years ago, it was still called Haida Health Centre. While much has changed about the organisation since then, at least one thing has remained constant: Goldie’s role as a reliable, bold community caretaker.

For each of the last twenty-plus years, Goldie has held the title of Community Health Representative. And, she has always taken this title to heart. During her earliest years of service, Goldie fulfilled her role by spending time with Elders – visiting them in-home to share a cup of coffee and connect over conversation. She also helped run a now-paused program called “At the Kitchen Table.”

Now, Goldie spends much of her time making and serving lunch and coffee at Niislaa Naay’s Wellness House. While already a great feat to cook and serve a large meal three times a week, week after week, Goldie doesn’t stop there. Knowing many in the surrounding area do not have cell phones or the means to follow social media, she walks throughout uptown and builds relationships with anyone who is struggling – inviting them to enjoy a meal and take advantage of the services available through Niislaa Naay. In this way, she is a model of community outreach and – as her colleagues described – she has created a legacy of “closing gaps in the community.”

Goldie is also known for being a fantastic coworker in the office. She is often the one to show new employees the ropes, she regularly helps with other programs beyond her role as Community Health Representative, and her colleagues describe her as always willing to extend a helping hand. Additionally – with a reputation for having “the pulse on the community” – she is always available to track down community members to make sure they get the services they need.

Outside of her work with Niislaa Naay, Goldie finds time to serve as a community lead for the Two-Spirit Dry Lab in G̱aw, “Turtle Island’s first research group that focuses exclusively on Two-Spirit people, communities, and experiences.”

In her personal life, Goldie is equally committed, resilient, and compassionate. When a community member loses a loved one or has a loved one in the hospital, for example, it is always Goldie who will head to the family’s home to provide company and see how she can help. Goldie is also a master cedar weaver who is dedicated to preserving this traditional practice through teaching.

What allows her to have such tremendous capacity, perhaps, is her strength. Her colleagues describe her as incredibly strong, tenacious, and even intimidating at times; not because she is scary, but because she is driven by a formidable commitment to protecting the community – the exact kind of commitment any community would be lucky to have. She loves fiercely, and people look forward to seeing her wherever she goes.

Niislaa Naay is tremendously grateful to have benefitted from Goldie’s commitment to and care for the community. The entire team thanks Goldie for so many years of laughter, connection, and impact.

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