Shobha K Sharma

With Indian roots, Shobha was born and raised in British Columbia. Fostered by her ancestral heritage, as well as the social issues within her community of Prince George, she was influenced by the implications of colonization on individuals and society at large. Determined to engage this dialogue, from 1999-2003, Shobha pursued a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she majored in History with a focus on the impact of colonization on Indigenous populations the world over.

Further inspired by the need for Indigenous perspectives amidst domineering local/global foreign perspectives, Shobha began a post-graduate degree in Indigenous Governance from the Faculty of Human and Social Development at the University of Victoria in 2005. This academic experience, which effectively drew on visiting professors, international experiences, and the integration of students within the local community, taught her the strength of Indigenous knowledge, the necessity of Indigenous resurgence, and the importance of reconciliation between cultures and people with conflicting worldviews. Compelling further insight into the present impact of economic globalization, from 2006-2007 her research interests led her back to India. In partnership with the local community, Shobha began examining and re-defining education to work towards reviving Indigenous Governance structures amongst young people. By exposing global politics, economics, and prevailing social perspectives, the community and Shobha began to examine and address the implications of globalization on local empowerment and mobilization.

From 2007-2013, based out of Udaipur, Rajasthan, Shobha served as the Country Director of India for Free the Children and Me to We. While facilitating social impact opportunities to India for youth and adults alike from North America, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, Shobha predominantly worked alongside the rural communities in India to integrate sustainable development that honored local worldviews and prescribed to Indigenous knowledge.

Driven by the need to continue to break down social, economic, and political hierarchies that are perpetuated by discriminative processes such as gender division and the caste system, Shobha began a new initiative. In 2013, Shobha founded, Our Satya, an international organization that engages the global community while responding to the health and well-being of women and infants within impoverished conditions around the world.  Our Satya is working in India, where the organization is engaging rural communities in programming around Education, Equality and Medical Outreach. One mother at a time, Our Satya, is actively working to empower women to first respond, and then change their reality.

Further inspired to serve her community at large, and ensure Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, Accessibility, Belonging and Indigenization are brought into the Post Secondary world, Shobha has served on the Board of Governors of the College of New Caledonia from 2018-2025, as Board Chair from 2022-2025.

Coming full circle, Shobha is currently working alongside First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples who inspired her response years ago. Shobha currently serves on the traditional and unceded territory of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nations, as the Executive Director of Soonats'ooneh, a community health centre formerly know as Central Interior Native Health Society. Translated in Dakelh as Let's all get well, Soonats'ooneh, provides primary health care and specialty/specialist care in addition to Indigenous approaches to health & wellness, all while addressing the social and cultural determinants of health.  With a team of qualified professionals, cultural knowledge practitioners, peers, and people with lived and living experience, Soonats'ooneh is committed to decolonizing and indigenizing mindsets and health care practices.