Ashley Nurmela is an Indigenous woman from Lake Helen, and a proud wife and mother of four beautiful children. She attended Confederation College in the Native and Child Family Services Program as an adult learner, where she was on the honour roll, received the Board of Governors Award, and the Succi OASA Student Leadership award. She works at both the grassroots and administrative levels, developing and coordinating such programs as the Stand Up Speak Up Campaign, and most recently as the FNMI Liaison for the Lakehead District School Board. Ashley is running for city councillor of the McKellar ward in Thunder Bay, ON.