Arlene Blanchard-White, a proud L'nu (Mi'kmaw) woman, hails from Shallop Cove with roots in Flat Bay, NL. An esteemed cultural advocate, Arlene achieved vital milestones, notably securing funding for Indigenous Women in Business on a national committee in 2019. In 2018, she was appointed to the Provincial Advisory Council for the Status of Women. She is a former ward councilor for Qalipu Mi’kmaw First Nation Band. As a Mi'kmaw Knowledge Sharer, Arlene has conducted numerous Water Ceremonies throughout Newfoundland and was the first person to host one in the NL House of Assembly for the swearing-in ceremony of the Honorable Lieutenant Governor Judy Foote.
Arlene also chaired the Bay St. George Mi'kmaq Cultural Revival Committee for approximately nine years. Her dedication extends to sports coaching and empowering young women through the "You Go Girl" program. As a volunteer or the Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle Newfoundland and Labrador, she secured funding for youth in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship. In her role as Assistant Chef de Mission for Team Indigenous NL 2023 and as Director for the Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle NL, Arlene further champions Mi'kmaw youth in sports. Arlene strives to spread knowledge and give guidance to anyone who crosses her path. Her passion for cultural preservation empowers her community.