Meet Our Board of Directors
NICOLE SCHAFENACKER
Nicole Schafenacker is a writer, artist and researcher with euro-settler ancestry residing on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council outside of Whitehorse, Yukon. Her work explores body memory, intimate geographies, and hopeful acts/relationships between humans and place. She is passionate about creating projects in the north at the intersection of arts, social justice, and environmental stewardship. When she’s not writing or creating she’s out on the trail with her retired sled dog, Aliy. Nicole is thrilled to be serving for a second term as Board President for Gwaandak Theatre.
Photo by Brian Pelchat
BOARD PRESIDENT
CALEIGH CROW
Caleigh Crow is a queer theatre artist from Mohkinstsis of Metis and settler parents. Previous playwriting topics include: a talking crow and a grocery clerk, the mass coronal ejection of 1859, the Antifa Supersoldier, the intersection between 12th century Franciscan nuns and Britney Spears, remote viewing, witch revenge, and a landlord musical. She is the co-founder and Artistic Lead of Thumbs Up Good Work Theatre. Caleigh also plays bass guitar in the band Pope Joan. Her work tends towards themes of metaphysics, class struggle, magic, and joy.
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
JESZIKA MAE
A jack of all trades and master of none, Jeszika Mae is a queer about town, multi-disciplinary artist, social activist, community organizer, business owner, and chef by trade from Kjipuktuk in Mi'kma'ki. Removed from his cultural heritages thanks to colonialism, Jeszika lives at the intersection of many marginalizations, and centers his work on creating safe, welcoming spaces in which to uplift marginalized voices while holding each other up and holding each other accountable. Since he arrived in the Yukon in 2014, Jeszika's artistic path has continually brought him to Gwaandak, as volunteer, performer, director, stage manager, prop designer, and now board member, where he is grateful to be in community and hopes to put his admin and accounting skills to good use.
BOARD TREASURER & SECRETARY
HEATHER ‘VON’ STEINHAGEN
Homegrown from Whitehorse, Yukon, Heather ‘Von’ Steinhagen is an artist of sorts with roots from Cowessess First Nation (mother, Cree) and Germany (father, 2nd generation Canadian).
Heather’s passion for supporting creative innovation and heart-filled connections drives her career and art practice. She exhibits her artwork regularly and is often working on challenging and creative projects such as Indigenize Wikipedia (Whitehorse, YT. 2018) and participating in talks like Becoming a Working Artist (Lady Smith, BC. 2021).
Heather has collected a Visual Arts Diploma (Vancouver Island University, 2014) and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts, focusing on Community-based Arts Education (Concordia, Montreal, QC. 2017). She has worked as an Arts Administrator for the Yukon Arts Centre, Government of Yukon Tourism and Culture, and is the former Executive Director of the Yukon Arts Society. Currently, Heather is the Content Developer for the Canadian Crafts Federation and maintains a busy artistic practice.
BOARD DIRECTOR
MICHAEL ROLFE
Michael Rolfe is a queer writer, film/theatre performer, and improviser based out of Mohkinstsis. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Performance from the University of Lethbridge and continues to broaden his experience by workshopping new Canadian plays, touring puppet shows, and acting whenever he can. Beyond acting for stage and screen, he spends his time imagining and creating queer narratives that centralize and uplift queer positivity and joy. In his free time, he loves to explore the fantasy worlds of Dungeons and Dragons, read sci-fi and horror books, and rewatch his favourite films.
BOARD DIRECTOR
TRISTEN WESTMAN
Tristen Westman is Northern Tutchone and a member of the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation in the Yukon. Growing up, she lived in Whitehorse YT and BC’s Lower Mainland. In 2015, she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary studies from the University of British Columbia. During the following year, she participated in the Indigenous Youth Internship Program, where she had the opportunity to work within a Government Agency, as well as an Indigenous Organization. Tristen continues to be involved in working with Non-Profit Organizations. Aside from work, she enjoys outdoor activities, book club, and exploring her creativity through painting.
BOARD DIRECTOR