She is president of the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network, the founder of the People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Centre, director of the Ulnooweg Development Corp. and a respected Mi’kmaw elder.
She holds a certificate in business administration from Memorial University, which led to the ownership of a successful outfitting business. During her years as a businessperson, Elder Pike often gave back to her community to support economic development opportunities.
As a community advocate, Elder Pike is passionate about cultural revitalization, sustainability, mental health and supporting members of the LGBTQ community facing gender-based violence and the women and families impacted by the murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls crisis.
She has played a leadership role for 40 years in the figure skating world, focusing on investing in the physical and mental well‐being of youth. She has served as the western regional director and on the board of Skate Canada N.L.
Since her retirement in 2011, Dr. Elder Pike has concentrated on empowering Indigenous men, women, youth and diverse peoples to realize their full potential.
She is the recipient of the 2000 Skate Canada N.L. Volunteer of Excellence Award; the 2008 City of Corner Brook Citizen of the Year Award; the 2008 Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs Visionary Award; the 2010 Ulnooweg Development Group Lifetime Achievement Award; the Governor General of Canada–Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers in 2017; and the Order of Newfoundland of Labrador in 2019.
For her dedicated Indigenous leadership and for the depth and breadth of her community service within the province, in social justice issues and in sport, Dr. Elder Odelle Pike received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Grenfell Campus, Memorial University at the 2023 Convocation