YORKTON — Sherry Whitehawk is doing something she never thought she would at 70, especially in retirement. But after encouragement from her grandkids to share her stories through a social platform, she has amassed more than 200,000 followers on TikTok.
It was clear in this interview that she easily attracts others with simple messages of kindness and love. Her soft-spoken tone and calm, caring conversation had this author checking out her TikTok page as well.
Whitehawk grew up in Manitoba on the Oak River Reserve, now known as Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.
Her videos blend traditional knowledge, warmth and recipe creations, all in her effort to share some grandmotherly wisdom. The grandma factor shines through and is likely a solid reason people are so enthralled with her posts. During the interview, this reporter felt instant peace and kindness in her voice, reminding me of many grandmas in my life.
There are thousands of comments regularly on her TikTok posts. One comment stood out as capturing the essence of Grandma Sherry: “You’re seriously such a breath of fresh air…you’re just so sweet, humble and peaceful to watch and listen to.”
Her TikTok comment sections include people from as far as South Africa, Ukraine and New Zealand, as well as locally, expressing love and connection to her work.
When she was first encouraged to share her messages through TikTok, she thought of her grandchildren sitting with her while she spoke, and now says, “I think about the thousands of grandchildren out there and I speak to them.” Clearly, it all comes very naturally to Grandma Sherry.
Now retired, Whitehawk spent a career as a mental health and addictions worker and uses that experience to deliver messages that are peaceful, kind and loving — qualities the world needs more of.
Technology was a challenge at the beginning, but with help from her family and experience from posting regularly, she has become more comfortable creating content.
When asked how this new role began, Grandma Sherry says, “My granddaughter, who is in her 30s, was at my place and I was cooking, I told her a story about childhood and lesson in it. She told me you should go on Tik Tok to tell your stories.”
Whitehawk said her granddaughter assured her it was very easy, setting a three-minute time limit to tell a story.
Setting up her account as Grandma Sherry, the new TikTok star was surprised when her family said she had 10,000 followers in the first few days. “That’s really something,” exclaims Whitehawk.
Now that she knows how much time a TikTok post takes, she prepares what she wants to say and cook, making sure to pause for tasks that don’t need to be included.
“It’s working and still amazes me and I can hardly believe when people recognize me. I smile every time. I feel unworthy because I have faults too.”
Whitehawk affirms, “I am Dakota woman for sure. I speak to everyone as I do believe that love and kindness can overcome anything. Messages like that are what I share.”
Grandma Sherry shares some of her childhood history growing up on the reserve: “We had a lot of love and kindness, our grandparents were kind and loving, so I speak more of that, resilience and kindness. It doesn’t matter what color you are, all people are equal, that’s what I believe.”
Her growing popularity now includes filming for the APTN network. The producer reached out to her and signed her to do 13 cooking episodes, which have been filmed and are being edited. They will air in April 2026, focusing on language, as they will all be done in different languages.
“APTN producer saw me on Tik Tok and shot a few scenes with me as she was going to some conference with networks and pitched this story to them, wasn’t about me but I was in it. Someone from APTN audience recognized me, saying, ‘Do you know Grandma Sherry? We want her.’”
“The problem is I have not talked Dakota since I was a child, I understand it so I had to learn to speak the language again. I have some knowledge; my cousins remained on reserve and stayed within the language. They were hired to be my coach; we got a show.”
Whitehawk says her TikTok role has certainly provided her new paths. She thought once she retired she would just enjoy time with her grandchildren, but now at 70, she is starting another career — and her followers are thankful.
Her son said he would rather listen to her in person at home, and not on the social media platform, although he has watched some of her work.
“I want to leave a legacy for them after I go into the spirit world. My audience is like my grandchildren. I get asked by others if they can call me grandma because they love my grandmother spirit.”
People who have seen her work say they are reminded of their own grandmothers, but what Grandma Sherry does and talks about helps them remember that love.
The Yorkton woman said she is stopped on the street or while shopping as people recognize her and want to reach out. The weekend of Thanksgiving, someone said to her, “My friend, his wife’s mother loves you and he pleads with me to have coffee with her.”
Whitehawk also enjoys engaging with the community. She is going to the nursing home on Oct. 20, invited by staff, to make bannock with residents.
One thing people might not know about her TikTok presence is that in Canada, you do not make money on TikTok. Whitehawk adds, “You can become an influencer, but I don’t want to because you have to push products and that’s not what I am all about. If I start doing that, I will become commercialized, and I don’t want that.”
Grandma Sherry has been invited by schools and recently attended Canora School, talking to Grade 5–8 students about love and kindness.
The TikTok grandma says she found it heartwarming when she told the kids, “A lot of you would not know that I am on Tik Tok,” and students soon chimed in, “We follow you.” She adds, “These are the kinds of things meaning children are listening. I am encouraged by the love and kindness they are learning and hoping they spread that into the world.”
“It was so cute, kids lined up for autographs and I signed what I say on my TikTok, ‘Much love to all of you.’”
The newest TikTok star says, “I love it when people call me Grandma Sherry, I love that title.”
