Deputy Advocates

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Man., Kelly Gossfeld is a proud Red River Métis woman with a passion for advocacy. She has built a rich and diverse portfolio working with a variety of social service agencies and Indigenous organizations across Treaty 1 territory.

She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba, a certificate in Indigenous Community Development from Assiniboine Community College, and she is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work based in Indigenous Knowledges from the University of Manitoba.

Kelly began her journey with the Manitoba Advocate in November 2022 as a Deputy Advocate. Prior to this role, she worked as the anti-racism coordinator for Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) in the MMIWG+ Liaison Unit.

Kelly is strongly rooted in her spirituality and lives by cultural teachings. She is the proud mother of five children and fourteen grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys attending traditional ceremonies with her loved ones.

In this role, she looks forward to building connections with Indigenous Peoples and amplifying the voices of children, youth, and young adults in Manitoba.

Rachel Charette was appointed Deputy Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth in September 2025, with responsibility for serious injury and child death reviews and investigations, research and quality assurance, and public education. She is Red River Métis, with both parents descending from scrip-bearing Métis families rooted for generations in southeastern Manitoba, including the historic Métis communities of St. Vital, St. Boniface, Ste. Anne, Lorette, St. Norbert, and La Rochelle.

Rachel brings more than 30 years of experience working with Indigenous communities, including over 25 years in senior leadership roles across social services and community sectors. Her work has focused on advancing equity, strengthening community-led responses, fostering relational accountability, and improving systems that affect Indigenous peoples and vulnerable populations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts  and a Bachelor of Laws , and  a Master of Social Work grounded in Indigenous Knowledges. She also holds certifications in mediation and peacemaking circles.

Rachel has extensive experience in legal and social research, investigation, and system reform. Early in her career she worked with the late Hon. Murray Sinclair on the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Inquest into the deaths of 12 infants – an experience that helped shape her understanding of systemic accountability and truth telling. She has led and contributed to collaborative community-based research initiatives with both community partners and academic institutions and has worked extensively to strengthen community justice responses.

Her leadership has included establishing a criminal diversion program for Indigenous peoples grounded in Indigenous and restorative justice principles , supporting a successful human rights complaint against Manitoba Corrections regarding conditions at the now closed Portage women’s jail, and helping to establish a community-based correctional facility for federally sentenced women so they could serve their sentences within Manitoba. She has also led public education initiatives focused on the history and ongoing impacts of colonization and the importance of truth and reconciliation, supported organizations in developing reconcili-action plans and has assisted with decolonizing courses and curricula.

Throughout her career, Rachel has supported and developed community-based initiatives focused on family violence prevention, mental health, land-based healing, cultural connections, community justice, and education. Her work reflects a commitment to collaborative leadership, Indigenous knowledge systems, and strengthening relationships between communities and public institutions.

Rachel has served on numerous boards and advisory committees, including the Indigenous Advisory Committee to the Chief of Police, and the boards of the Indigenous Women’s Healing Centre (formerly the Native Women’s Transition Centre), Oyate Tipi, Social Planning Council, Elizabeth Fry Society, Native Clan Organization,  Neeginan Education, Training and Employment Services (formerly the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development), and the Manitoba Métis Federation’s New Horizons Local, among others.

In her spare time, Rachel enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring nature, gardening, hiking, travelling, reading, crafting, and attending community events and ceremony.  She is a pipe carrier and is currently completing her commitment to sundance with the Two-Spirit Sundance. She lives with her partner, two children, and their family pets.