Sarah Jeffrey

Sarah Jeffrey (she/her) is of Gitxsan and German heritage maternally; and of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Polish heritage paternally. Sarah was primarily raised in Gitxsan culture and was groomed as a chief’s daughter by her mother and grandmother. In 2017, she began learning Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim through the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Certificate Program. At that time, she began seeking guidance from her paternal grandmother to practise Sḵwx̱wú7mesh culture, and immersed herself into the community. In 2018, Sarah enrolled in the Diploma Program, where she studied Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim for an additional two years. In 2020, Sarah served as a Language Research Assistant at SFU, continuing on with the First Nations Technology Council (FNTC) to study Foundations in Innovation and Technology. Today, Sarah works with Sníchim Foundation as the Communications Director and a language mentor.

Additionally, Sarah is an artist who has been practising traditional northwest coast formline for over fifteen years, apprenticing under many master carvers and artists. She is a mother to Kwayeliwan, who is the first in four generations to be raised speaking Sḵwx̱wú7mesh. Her passions are practicing culture with her family, speaking Sḵwx̱wú7mesh with her community, being on the land, protecting hereditary territory, harvesting traditional foods, and doing any kind of creative artistic pursuit.