Asya Touchie, Director of Education and Youth

The Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government is proud to announce that huupkʷist̓aʔaqs – Asya Touchie, a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ citizen, will be joining the team as the first-ever Director of the newly created Department of huuḥtakšiiḥinʔaała (Education & Youth). Asya will begin part-time in May 2025 and transition into the role full-time in July 2025 as she relocates back home to Ucluelet.

Asya is the granddaughter of Edith Brown (Yuułuʔiłʔaqsup) and Matthew Brown (ƛaaʔuukʷiʔatḥ), and the daughter of Leah Golling (Cree) and Matthew Touchie (Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ). She is proud to carry forward the teachings and values of her family as she steps into this new role serving Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ youth and families.

Asya brings experience in child and youth care, Indigenous education, and public service. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Care with specializations in Indigenous and Child Protection, as well as a Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency – nuučaan̓uł.

She has been working with post-secondary institutions since 2020, most recently as an Indigenous Program Specialist at the University of Calgary, where she led the development of Indigenous programs and supported Indigenous students through academic preparation and pathways. She has also worked at Simon Fraser University, where she coordinated academic and cultural programs for Indigenous students.

Previously, Asya served as the Manager of Culture & Heritage and Interim Manager of Social Services with the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government, overseeing programs related to education, health & wellbeing, social assistance, and language and culture revitalization. Her earlier work as a social worker and family support worker reflects a longstanding commitment to supporting children, youth, and families.

With her new appointment, Asya has announced her resignation from the Legislature and Executive, effective April 30, 2025. We thank her for her dedicated service and are excited to welcome her into this new leadership role.

A message from huupkʷist̓aʔaqs – Asya Touchie:

“Serving in this role has been an incredible honour and a profound responsibility. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated individuals in service of our people and Nation. I look forward to continuing this work in a new way and am excited for what lies ahead.”

Please join us in congratulating huupkʷist̓aʔaqs – Asya Touchie on this next chapter and welcoming her as Director of huuḥtakšiiḥinʔaała (Education & Youth).

A by-election will be called to fill the legislature vacancy—please stay tuned for more information.