Regena was the first woman ever elected as a Council member for the Tsuut’ina Nation and has gone on to serve multiple terms, beginning in the 1970s and most recently being re-elected in 2022.
She has worked on numerous special projects for the Nation, including the casino portfolio and as co-chair overseeing the environmental clearance of the returned military lands. A tireless promoter of Nationhood, she has been instrumental in the development of the Tsuut’ina Nations’ laws, policies, and regulations.
As a child Regena attended residential school on the Blood Tribe lands for nine years, before finishing high school at St. Mary’s in Calgary. Regena earned her diploma in Business Management at Henderson’s Business College in Calgary and went on to work in the business sector, First Nation governments, Indian organizations, and the provincial and federal governments.
Regena’s passion has always been the Inherent Rights and Treaty Rights of Indigenous peoples. She has advocated on Indigenous issues regionally, nationally and internationally, and has been to the UN twice to lobby for Indigenous rights. Over the years she has sat on numerous boards and committees. Regena served as Vice President of the Indian Association of Alberta, representing people from Treaties 6, 7 and 8, and in 1990 became the first woman elected as President of the Association.
Regena states she was very fortunate in having the opportunity to learn from her father and Elders about our peoples’ oral history and their relationship with the many levels of government. These teachings assisted her, and continue to assist her, on her distinguished political career.
A proud mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, Regena and her spouse, Sidney Starlight, enjoy their 10 children and numerous grandchildren.
