Shawnee Monchalin is Metis from the historic community of Sault Ste Marie on her father's side and Italian on her mother's. She grew up on Attiwonderonk Territory, but now lives on unceded Coast Salish territory. 

Shawnee is called to the bar in BC and the Yukon, and is legal counsel at the BC Human Rights Tribunal in Vancouver. Prior to human rights law, Shawnee worked at a national firm focused on Aboriginal, administrative, and environmental litigation matters. She was also a clinician at the Indingeous Community Legal Clinic where she worked as pro bono legal counsel for Indingeous clients during her studies. 

Outside of the legal community, Shawnee is a dancer for Butterflies in Spirit - a group committed to bringing awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.