Dokis First Nation Anishinaabekwe crowned Ms. Regional Canada 2022
By Kelly Anne Smith
NORTH BAY— Aspiring to inspire, Nathalie Wajashk Restoule walked the red carpet to ensure her platform reaches the public and Indigenous youth. Entering the Mrs. Ms. Regional Canada Empowerment Pageant as Ms. Anishinabek Nation, Wajashk Restoule has been crowned Ms. Regional Canada 2022.
During the Ms. Regional Canada awards held on November 2 in Sudbury, Ont., Wajashk Restoule won four categories: public speaking, interview award, evening gown, and EmpowerHER Woman of Influence.
Calling herself a people person, she relishes spending time with people, sharing, and storytelling.
“It was really fun. It was only my second pageant, so I was going in there to have fun and have the experience. But the outcome was pretty awesome, too.”
Ms. Regional Canada was excited that through fundraising, all of the contestants collectively raised $34,000 for Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer.
From Dokis First Nation, one of the 39 Anishinabek Nation member First Nations, Wajashk Restoule related to the pageant’s promotion of women’s interests and accomplishments.
“That’s why I was drawn to this pageant when I read their mission. And the director – her name is Cheryl Kozera- really strives to showcase the beauty within. I was really drawn to that and just to share my community work and my leadership in the community. This was an opportunity to network and share my story so that’s what inspired me to participate,” she recalls. “One of the actual requirements to participate in the pageant was to build our portfolio. It’s called beauty with a purpose, empower her. We were able to compile all of our successes and community volunteer work… And we were able to showcase all of our qualities that we carry – our gifts that we carry. That’s something that I love about the whole pageant. There were things I was able to reflect on myself and was pretty surprised on how much I actually accomplished.”
Nathalie was in her late teens when she set herself on the path to success.
“That’s when I started to look up and find my mentors. I come from Dokis, it’s a small community. First being a young person, I didn’t really have very many role models in my community. I worked really hard to seek out role models beyond what was available to me. So, I started participating in leadership and language camps and different opportunities to get out there and network.”
Nathalie has built the capacity to share what she has learned with other youth.
“That’s what inspires me now in everything that I do, whatever position I’m in, just to be a role model. I want to be available to those who think they have nobody. One of my biggest inspirations is always our youth.”
At work, Nathalie is the Youth Well-Being Services Coordinator for the Lake Huron Region at the Anishinabek Nation. She is also a mother to a five-year old son and two-year old daughter.
“They keep me really, really busy. I take them with me everywhere that I go and I try to show them this good life. It goes back to giving them opportunities that I never had as well,” she expresses. “It was so cute after I got home from the pageant, my son was so happy for me. He said, ‘Mommy, I can’t believe you’re a princess. Can I be your guard?'”
Nathalie’s evening gown by Lesley Hampton, Anishinaabe artist and fashion designer and member of Temagami First Nation, added an extra touch of elegance at her coronation.
“That was the showstopper. I’ve seen some of her creations on the red carpet and I follow her on Instagram. Her name is Lesley Hampton. She’s an Indigenous designer. I reached out to her; she got back to me two weeks before the pageant. We were cutting it close but she made it happen. She took my measurements and sewed the custom dress I wore.”
As she is a Jingle Dress Dancer, there is another dress that is near and dear to Nathalie.
“The Jingle Dress dance is known to be a healing dance. It all kind of ties together with things that I’m passionate about. It’s not just within the school setting. It’s also in my everyday life. I try to ensure I prioritize my culture and going out there and dancing. And taking that time to pray all the time. Helping people is beyond talking to them or giving something, it’s about making that time for prayer, too. That’s one of my biggest beliefs in life.”
Nathalie attributes her success to the support of several special people in her life.
“I don’t think I would be able to do half the things I do without having a really awesome support team of people in my life — my mom, my step-mom, and my dad, my sister, and a big group of friends.”
Now that Nathalie Wajashk Restoule has won the crown of Ms. Regional Canada, she is encouraged to keep advocating during her reign, including speaking out on domestic violence against women.
“That’s really important to me. It’s something that I’ve overcome myself. It’s an issue in some of our communities. I just want to be an inspiration for women to find the strength within,” she explains. “During my whole time there, I wanted to represent who we are and tell that story. What really means a lot to me is being a good representation… I always think back, for our people, how far we’ve come. I just want to make our community a better place and always give opportunity. I think that’s why I chose the psychology area to better understand the trauma that we’ve been through and how we can overcome.”