Introducing Shaina Lynden, LAS' Director of Indigenous Services and Relations

Legal Aid Saskatchewan is proud to welcome Shaina Lynden as our Director of Indigenous Services and Relations, a role that reflects our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities and improving access to culturally responsive justice services across the province.

A proud member of Yellow Quill First Nation, Shaina brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning policing, community engagement, organizational development and Indigenous justice reform. Her career has been defined by a commitment to building trust, fostering meaningful partnerships and advancing systemic change. Her perspective is deeply informed by both professional expertise and lived experience as the daughter of a Sixties Scoop survivor and granddaughter of a residential school survivor.

Before joining Legal Aid Saskatchewan, Shaina served with the Saskatoon Police Service, where she most recently led cross-cultural engagement initiatives within the Equity and Cultural Engagement Unit. Beyond policing, she has contributed to numerous boards and advisory committees, championing inclusive leadership, community collaboration and Indigenous representation in decision-making.

Shaina also brings an entrepreneurial spirit to her new role. As the founder and former CEO of RYDE YXE Cycle Studio, she successfully built a thriving local business while fostering an organizational culture rooted in equity, mentorship and community connection. She holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education, with research focused on strengthening police-Indigenous relationships through culturally responsive education.

As Director of Indigenous Services and Relations, Shaina will provide strategic leadership to advance Legal Aid Saskatchewan's reconciliation commitments and strengthen Indigenous services throughout the organization.

Read more here as Shaina shares her journey, what inspired her to join Legal Aid Saskatchewan and the priorities she hopes to advance in this important leadership role:

Legal Aid Saskatchewan (LAS): What attracted you to this opportunity, and what made this role feel like the right next step in your career?

Shaina Lynden (SL): After proudly serving the citizens of Saskatoon as a member of the Saskatoon Police Service for the past 20 years, my unique position as a First Nations woman and natural relationship builder has led me down a very specific path where I feel called to lead reconciliation within the justice sector. This opportunity with LAS is an excellent fit to lean on my lived and professional experience, ongoing educational pursuits and passion for creating meaningful change to continue this work and support LAS through our reconciliation journey.

LAS: What opportunities do you see for the organization over the next few years?

SL: LAS has been serving our most vulnerable and marginalized populations across the province since its inception. With a significantly high population of Indigenous clients, I believe that we have an opportunity to collaboratively strive to fulfil our commitments to truth and reconciliation through capacity building, collective engagement and community partnerships. These actions will not only improve our organizational growth and critical understanding of our clients but will improve our ability to facilitate wrap around supports and healing.

LAS: What impact would you like to have in this role?

SL: I hope to aid in supporting our Indigenous clients by being an innovative and consistent resource to our LAS team. Whether it be developing education, relationships or new policies or practices, I hope to effectively guide and encourage the LAS team to have the information and resources required to achieve our desired outcomes.

LAS: If we were having this conversation three years from now, what would success look like to you?

SL: For me, a couple of specific measurements of success at LAS would mean an increase of Indigenous staff across the province to best reflect the people and communities being served, a reduction in the current overincarceration rates of Indigenous people, and an organizational culture that embodies reconciliation as an integral part of daily practice.

LAS: What values guide your decision-making?

SL: I would say more than anything my heart guides my decisions. When you center who you love, what you love to do and what makes your heart happy, you will always make the right decision. Leading with your heart means centering authenticity, respect, compassion, reciprocity and loyalty. People are our greatest assets and these are the values that treat them as such.

LAS: Who are some of the people or mentors who have influenced how you lead?

SL: As a former university athlete with the Huskie women’s basketball team at the University of Saskatchewan, I had the pleasure of learning from, and being coached by, many incredible female leaders. This includes the highly decorated and very successful Lisa Thomaidis. It has been female leaders like her, coupled with additional strong mentors and influences such as some of my former police Chiefs, who have encouraged me to push boundaries, use my voice and influence the culture of organizations. Additionally, both of my parents have been outstanding community builders and role models who have instilled in me a mentality of service, kindness and the importance of education.

LAS: What or who motivates you each day?

SL: As the granddaughter of a residential school survivor and daughter of a Sixties Scoop survivor who was also a cycle breaker, I come from a long line of warrior women whom I will always strive to honour. This also includes being a role model for our three daughters to carry on that legacy and generational healing. Additionally, as a foster parent of a First Nations little girl, I am very aware of the multitude of dire statistics that she is facing in this country and vow to do everything in my power to ensure that she and others have equal opportunities and better outcomes.

LAS: Outside of the office, what do you do to stay energized and grounded?

My husband and I have five kids between the two of us, ranging in ages from 13 to 25, who all keep us busy with sports, coaching and family time. Although that sounds exhausting, it is truly a gift and privilege to spend time on our acreage or at our cabin with the people we love most. As of last July, we also brought a beautiful two-month-old little girl into our home as first time foster parents. Parenting a now 13-month-old has completely changed where we thought we were in life. Not only does she keep us grounded (and also moving!), she reminds us of the “WHY” in our work.

SL: I wholeheartedly am a lifelong learner. Opportunities to grow and expand my skills, knowledge and abilities continues to energize and fuel me. As a current doctoral student, last year I applied to be a University of Saskatchewan TEDx speaker among some of the most incredible researchers and community leaders. It’s opportunities like this that require me to overcome imposter syndrome and consider what my legacy will be that keep me chasing new dreams.

LAS: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received, and why does it resonate?

SL: I once was told to always consider everything that could go right… what if it works out, what if you end up happier, what if it turns out to be the best decision you could have made? We often frame the million what ifs in our lives as the possible negative outcomes which creates fear, mediocrity and stagnancy.

LAS: Do you have any guiding words you’d like to share?

SL: Never stop asking yourself what you want to be when you grow up! It is never too late or too early to try something new. In the past couple of years, I have moved from our long-time home to an acreage, completed a master’s, and am now doing a doctorate (while working full time), became a foster parent, and left a 20-year career to chase what truly matters to me. There will never be the right or perfect time for anything, but we get one shot so make the most of it.

We look forward to the energy, leadership and perspective Shaina brings to Legal Aid Saskatchewan. Her appointment marks an important step in our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, and we are excited to support the work ahead as we continue building trust, improving access to justice and better serving Indigenous clients and communities throughout the province.