Chelsie McCutcheon's story embodies resilience, community, and the transformative power of the outdoors. A member of the Wet'suwet'en Nation from near Smithers, British Columbia, Chelsie has faced life's challenges with grace and tenacity. Through snowboarding, she discovered a path to healing and empowerment early in life and uses her journey to inspire others. Now, through her roles as mentor and guide, her profound connection to the mountains fuels her determination to uplift her people through outdoor recreation.
Growing up in Witset, a small Indigenous community 22 kilometers north of Smithers, Chelsie navigated the complexities of her cultural identity within a largely segregated society. Although they had no prior experience with skiing, Chelsie's teenage parents nurtured her love for the outdoors and viewed it as a vital bridge connecting their daughter to the world around her. "It started from my parents," she says. "They saw skiing as a way to connect me, as a Wet'suwet'en girl growing up on the reservation, with the local community."
What her parents lacked in resources when it came to ski gear, lesson, and races, they compensated for with community support. "Our people are very community-oriented," Chelsie explains. "We have a clan system, and our community comes together, no matter what."
Chelsie first hit the slopes on skis at three years old, and eventually transitioned to snowboarding. At 15, she earned her Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI) certification. Combined with her Wet'suwet'en heritage and deep connection to the sacred mountains, the sport became her salvation. "Snowboarding really helped with everything—that's what I would like to share with others," Chelsie says. "It saved my life."
For the past two decades, Chelsie has dedicated herself to sharing her experience with and mentoring Indigenous youth through the Indigenous Lifesport Academy, formerly known as the First Nations Snowboard Team. She is committed to giving back to her community by reconnecting young people with the mountains. "Bringing youth back onto the mountain, specifically in Smithers, is amazing to witness," she says.
She has also collaborated with organizations like Girl in the Wild, which takes self-identified girls into the backcountry for empowering outdoor experiences, growth and healing.
Chelsie's vision is to expand these efforts, connecting Indigenous youth with outdoor recreation as a tool for healing and empowerment. "I want to continue connecting the community to the mountains for this reclamation and recognition that they are worthy of climbing them," she says.