Nella Nelson
Director
Nella Nelson (Tlapalasugw’lakw) is originally from the N’amgis Nation of Alert Bay and lived her childhood and teen years there, working in the commercial fishing industry with her father. She has ancestral roots from the T’sakis, K’omoks and the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Nations. She is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Alex and Nella have been married for 48 years and have shared their hearts and home with 34 of their nieces and nephews from their home communities.
Nella worked for the Greater Victoria School District for 40 years and recently retired in 2018. She was a high school history teacher and counselor for 10 years and then the District Administrator for the Aboriginal Nations Education Division for 29 years, a position she held until her retirement.
Nella is a very active member in the overall community, she continues to serve as Chair of the Camosun College Indigenous Advisory Council and UVIC Faculty of Education Indigenous Education Council. She is also a board member of the M’akola Housing Societies and the M’akola Development Corporation. Nella has completed terms with the BC Children’s Commission, BC Human Rights Advisory, Greater Victoria Police Diversity Committee, Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services and Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, Provincial Representative for Youth Special Needs Advisory Council, and Success by Six Provincial Board.
Nella is currently a facilitator with the Arrive and Roundtable Consulting team involved in a range of cross cultural learning initiatives.
Nella has been acknowledged with the Queen’s 125 Commemorative Medal for Community Service, YM/YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Education, Training and Development, the Camosun College and the University of Victoria Distinguished Alumni Awards, and the Diversity Award from the Representative For Children and Youth.
Nella’s passion has also been to work to ensure that there are housing options for our Indigenous people in both urban and rural settings, we work through M’akola Housing to create a sense of place and belonging for our people in a variety of settings. Nella has been with the M’akola Board of Directors since 1986.