Shawntei is our Program Manager and a Senior Guide, bringing a calm and confident vibe to every trip she’s part of. She first joined as a YOW participant, fell in love with the river, and later came on board as inflatable kayak support. She’s been with us ever since—taking on more responsibility over the past couple of years and now playing a key role both on the water and behind the scenes.

A member of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, Tsayu Clan, Shawntei is deeply connected to her community, land, and culture.

She holds her Wilderness First Aid and Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT) certifications. Whether she’s guiding on the river or supporting youth and community programs, she brings experience, care, and strong leadership to the work

Kaleigh is a member of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in the Gidimt’en clan. For as long as she can remember, the river has been a place where she has felt at home, thanks to the incredible guide team that welcomed her with open arms and made her feel safe in the water. Watching the guides fearlessly leap into crashing waves on rivers like the Bulkley and the Skeena inspired her from a young age. She was always eager to meet at the confluence where the two rivers meet, knowing she’d be surrounded by people who not only loved the river but deeply respected it.

The guide team took the time to teach Kaleigh everything she needed to know—from spotting hazards and using a throw bag to reading currents and understanding water safety. Their knowledge, patience, and encouragement shaped the way she sees and moves through the river. When Kaleigh was sixteen, the team asked her to join them, a dream come true. Saying yes was easy, and she’s always been grateful to those who guided her and helped mold her into the river guide she is today.

Their impact lives on in every paddle stroke and every safety talk she gives. Kaleigh looks forward to seeing you on the river this summer!

Nika is from Telkwa, a long time resident of the Bulkley Valley. She came out in a WOW program years ago and took it upon herself to extend her training in Swift water rescue and through volunteering for Women on Water as a safety kayaker. This is Nika’s third season as a guide for the WOW programs, she is steadily increasing her skill level and experience on the water and will be training as a trip leader this summer. Aside from being on the water, Nika is active in food security work and is a wild harvester.

Nova is a Bear Clan member of the Ojibway Nation. This is her third season with SWCC. She is a confident trip leader, with a solid safety skill set. Nova is training to become a Swift Water Rescue instructor, is an avid skier, and is a Wilderness First Responder. When she’s not in a raft, Nova is either fishing or kayaking.

Colette grew up in Colorado but began her rafting journey on the glacially braided rivers of the Chilkat River Valley in Alaska. Small but mighty, she’s determined to overcome all barriers and inspire other shorter-statured women to join the rafting community. Colette holds her Wilderness First Responder and Swift Water Rescue Certifications and enjoys packrafting, skiing, backpacking, and climbing.