OUR STAFF
Satsan (Herb George) | President
Satsan is a Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief of the Frog Clan. He has been a long-time Speaker for the Wet’suwet’en Nation. located in BC, and previously served as Speaker for both the Gitxsan and the Wet’suwet’en Nations. He was also Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria, and taught for several years in the University’s Administration of Aboriginal Governments Program. Satsan was a key figure and strategist in the Delgamuukw-Gisday Wa case, which was the subject of a successful judgement before the Supreme Court of Canada in December 1997.… Read More
Chris Robertson | Chief Operating Officer (Acting )
Chris Robertson has over 18 years of experience specializing in community economic and organizational development, professional management, public and media communications, strategic planning, governance, lands and resources support with First Nation communities, governments and businesses. … Read More
Anisa White | Manager of Professional Development
Anisa White is Cree/Métis going back six generations to the Red River in Manitoba. She was a Negotiations Analyst at the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation on a range of land and resource matters and brings critical international experience in Aboriginal law and governance issues, working in Western Australia as a research assistant at Yamatji Marlpa Barna Baba Maaja Land and Sea Council, a native title representative body for 30 native title claim groups. Anisa education includes Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degrees.… Read More
Sarah Morales | Research and Professional Development
Sarah Morales is Coast Salish and a member of Cowichan Tribes. As the Department of Justice Congressional Fellow at the University of Arizona, Sarah clerked for the Pasqua Yaqui Tribal Appellate Court and worked on a petition to the Organization of American States. Sarah is pursuing her Ph.D. in the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria. … Read More
Cheryl Simon | Governance Advisory Services
Cheryl Simon is Mi’kmaq from Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island). She has practiced Aboriginal and Business law with a law firm in Halifax and worked as Director of Administration for Abegweit First Nation. Cheryl continues to learn her language and when called to the Bar, she swore her oath in both Mi’kmaq and English.… Read More
Brian Smith | Director of Operations
Brian Smith is a Mi'kmaq from the Glooscap community in Nova Scotia. Brian began his career as a Financial Controller for a Nova Scotia First Nation. He moved on to work with the Royal Bank of Canada beginning as a Manager of Business Banking. After many years in the for-profit corporate world, Mr. Smith turned to the non-profit area when he opened the first Atlantic office of the Canadian Executive Services Organization and was their first Atlantic Regional Manager. Brian education includes an MBA.… Read More
Brian Fitzpatrick | Director of Finance
Len Hartley | Director of Public Education and Communications
Len worked for several years as a communications consultant, providing strategic communications and web services to government, non-profit and Aboriginal organizations. Len’s career includes over 15 years with the Government of British Columbia developing and managing in-person, call centre and online services. Len has a Diploma of Marketing from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.… Read More
Gaylord Knott | Human Resource Manager
Gaylord Knott is a proud member of the Ojibway nation; born and raised in the First Nation Territory of Curve Lake located in southern Ontario. He worked as Executive Director for a non-profit organization, served on his band council.and worked for education authority, Northern Nishnawbe Education Council, which serviced 27 First Nation communities located in North Western Ontario. Gaylord has a degree in business administration and completed the Human Reaource Management Program at Confederation College.… Read More
Cherlyn Billy | British Columbia Regional Manager
Cherlyn is a member of the Shuswap Nation, near Cache Creek,British Columbia. Prior to joining the Centre, Ms. Billy oversaw a national program that resulted in partnerships being developed effectively between organizations, federal and provincial government and employers. Cherlyn has a degree in Arts and Law from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia and Certificate in Aboriginal Employment Development from the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology.… Read More
Jocelyne Wasacase-Merasty | Prairies Regional Manager
Jocelyne is a member of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation in Saskatchewan. Her past employment includes working for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations as the Communication's Manager, Editor of Saskatchewan Indian magazine, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) as the Director of Communications and acting Vice President of Corporate Affairs. Jocelyne has a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University in Victoria.… Read More
Marcel Tessier | Quebec Regional Manager
Larry Spence | Ontario Regional Manager
Larry is a proud member of Constance Lake First Nation located about 500 kms east of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He worked for Matawa Employment & Training overseeing the employment and training programs for the Matawa communities, as a Human Resources Administrator with Tikinagan Child & Family Services and for Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. Larry has a Management Diploma from Confederation College, specializing in First Nation Administration.… Read More
Tracy Cloud | Policy & Implementation Officer (Atlantic))
Tracy is a Mi’kmaq from Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation, the oldest village in New Brunswick. She worked for Indian and Northern Affairs as a band governance officer and has assisted First Nations communities with estates and wills, bylaws, land registration and Indian Moneys. She worked on a number of Atlantic community elections and appeals as a deputy electoral officer. Tracy attended the University of New Brunswick.… Read More
Don Jones | Policy & Implementation Officer (Ontario)
Don was born and raised in Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation near Fort Frances, Ontario. He was elected chief at 25 years of age and served five terms, as well as, Tribal Chief for three terms for Grand Council Treaty #3. He served for 14 years as Research Director for the (TARR) Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Program for the Grand Council Treaty #3 and as an Executive Director at Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services.… Read More
Charles Douglas | Policy and Implementation Officer (BC)
Charles (“Corkey”) is a member of the Cheam First Nation, located on the southwest corner of BC. Starting at age 25, he was elected to council five consecutive times, the last term as chief. Throughout this ten year period he held the health and social development portfolio, and the finance portfolio. He also represented Cheam and the Sto:lo people on fisheries issues with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Charles has a Bachelor of Arts in First Nations Studies and has earned his L.L.B.… Read More
Brenna Latimer | Communications Officer
Brenna comes from the Kwakwaka’wakw/Laichkwiltach Nations on the Northern part of Vancouver Island. She worked wth her Nation’s Treaty negotiation organization, Hamatla Treaty Society and was mentored in the communications and governance departments. Brenna has extensive experience developing and organizing community and youth programs and events. Brenna is currently obtaining a Master of Arts in Professional Communication.… Read More
Lynda Vanden Elzen | Executive Assistant to President
Lynda is from Toronto, Ontario, and relocated to British Columbia in 2006. Lynda has great passion for her work at the Centre and is proud to join the team at the National Centre for First Nations Governance as the Executive Assistant to the President.… Read More
Pawa Haiyupis | Youth and Emerging Leadership
Pawatsqwachiitl Haiyupis is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.Over the past 10 years Pawa has developed a diversity of professional skills from her work experience with First Nations people in relation to stewardship and the environment. Pawa’s areas of training include First Nations Studies and Environmental Science with a focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Traditional Governance and Coastal Ecology.… Read More
Leah Gazan | Research Officer
Leah Gazan is a member of Wood Mountain Lakota Nation, located in Saskatchewan. She is professor/coordinator in the Faculty of Education at the University of Winnipeg. She has 17 years experience in the area of community capacity building and development which includes program creation and management, training, governance structure development, and program assessment. Leah has worked extensively with First Nations communities in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. … Read More