Meet The Team

Nicki is a new kind of elder, poet, writer, researcher, dedicated to redistributing ancestral teachings in a contemporary society. She is an educator, known for her extensive work in mental health and cultural advocacy, and has played a pivotal role in promoting Indigenous mental health and wellness across the country through her position as a national emcee and educator for Truth and Reconciliation Canada.

Nicki is currently the Regional Coordinator at the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, where she focuses on integrating cultural best practices into mental health and wellness. With roots in Hesquiaht and Ucluelet, she has dedicated over 30 years to fostering a new economy based on the redistribution of knowledge, networks, and compassion. Nicki is also a published researcher and has lectured at universities throughout North America.

dre brings experience in the non-profit sector, municipal government and harm reduction to a community organizing context through their behind-the-scenes work with Coastal Queers. Through their contributions in grant-writing, policy development, communications and more, dre has used their compassionate insight to shape Coastal Queers since its inception. Dre believes queer love is changing the world, and knows it’s changing them. 

As a co-founder of Coastal Queers, John brings his insight and experience as a young queer person who's lived on the coast for over half a decade. For John, the creation of Coastal Queers was inspired by the possibility of projects like Queer Surf coming to life, combining his love for the ocean and the desire for queer community to come together in a fun way. John values the connections made through the ongoing work of Coastal Queers, whether with other queer folks, organizations, business owners, or individuals in our region who are curious about what we do and how they can support.

Sully has been the driving force behind queer events, programming and education since the start of Coastal Queers. Passionate about creating opportunities for queer folks to meet, connect, and build community, Sully’s work centers on queer joy, accessibility, and belonging. Beyond Coastal Queers, Sully is a musician, avid reader, and loves to snorkel. They believe in the magic of shared meals and love hosting potlucks as a way to bring people together. Whether through music, education, or community organizing, Sully is dedicated to building spaces where queer love can thrive.

Naasʔi ʔawatin is a Hesquiaht Two-Spirit creator dedicated to building communities of care and culture on their homelands. Their work blends storytelling, mixed media, and mending to explore themes of identity, resilience, and connection to land. Through their practice, they challenge colonial systems and binary ways of being and reflect on the transformative power of embracing imperfection. Rooted in Indigenous stewardship and the belief in community as liberation, their practice seeks to heal ecosystems, cultural ties, and collective relationships, offering new perspectives on growth, respect, and inner strength.