The Honourable Steven Lewis Point, OBC (Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl) is the former 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. He served as Chief of the Skowkale First Nation and Tribal Chair of the Stó:lō Nation.

With a Degree in Law from UBC, he practised both criminal and native law before accepting an appointment as a Provincial Court Judge in 1999. He has received numerous awards including; The Justice Institute of British Columbia Foundation’s Joseph H. Cohen Award, the Order of British Columbia (2007), the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee (2002) and Diamond Jubilee (2012) medals, Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (2008), and the Order of Chilliwack (2016). He has received Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD) from the University of the Fraser Valley (2000), University of Victoria (2012), University of British Columbia (2013) and Capilano University (2017).

Robert Louie, LL.B, OC, Hon. Dr. LL.B is the former Chief (24 years) of the Westbank First Nation (which is Self Governing), and has served on numerous Boards, Companies, and Special Appointments with Government and private industry for over 30 years. He has extensive experience in real estate development and finance matters and has focused primarily on working for First Nations on land matters throughout Canada.

Robert is the Chairman of the First Nations Lands Advisory Board (30 years) and has been instrumental in getting First Nations into incremental self-governance. Robert is also the Chairman/Director of Peace Hills Trust, which is the largest aboriginal financial institution in Canada. Robert is the Indigenous advisor representing Canada on the World Indigenous Business Forum and networks with other leaders promoting Indigenous economic development and world trade. Robert sits as a Board Member with the BC Achievement Foundation and is on the Executive Committee. Robert is a Founding Director and is a shareholder in the Public Company – Decisive Dividends (DE) on TSX Venture. Most recently, Robert is a Founding Partner in Indigenous World Finance LLP and is Executive Chairman and Director of Indigenous Bloom Corp.

Robert is a former practicing lawyer who specialized in native law and was a summer Law Instructor at the University of Saskatchewan. He has received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the Justice Institute of British Columbia. He is also a former Task Group member elected by the Chiefs in BC serving 4 years on the B.C. First Nations Summit Task Group and was actively involved in B.C. Treaty negotiations representing First Nations. Robert was awarded the prestigious Officer of the Order of Canada on October 5th, 2006, and on June 1st, 2019, Robert was honored with the recognition of Honorary Fellow of Okanagan College.

Some of the other numerous boards and special appointments Robert has been active in include: Board of Governor member with UBC; President’s Advisory Council member with UBC-Okanagan; Board Director on the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board; President of First Nations Finance Authority Inc.; Board Director with All Nations Trust Co; one of a nine-member Premier’s Advisory Council with the Premier of B.C.; Board Director on the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce; Board Director and founding member with the Kelowna United Native Friendship Society.

Robert has been the recipient of many awards and distinguished presentations including Lifetime B.C. Achievement Award Aboriginal Business; Distinguished Alumni Business Administration, Okanagan College; Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal; Excellence in Aboriginal Leadership from Aboriginal Financial Officers Association & Xerox Canada; Business Person of the Year, Westbank Chamber of Commerce; President’s Award, Westbank Chamber of Commerce; Recipient of Commemorative Medal for 125th Anniversary of Canada and the B.C. Academic Scholarship Award.

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About Sts’ailes

The Sts’ailes are a sovereign Coast Salish Indigenous People, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia.  Formerly known as Chehalis Indian Band:

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• The Sts’ailes name is derived from the Halq’eméylem word ‘Sts’a’íles’, which means “the beating heart”;

•  A spiritual, physical and cultural connection to the land, water and its resources;

• “Xa’xa Temexw” literally translates to “sacred earth”;

• Xwelmexw (human beings) are only one part of Xa’xa Temexw;

• Exercised their inherent right of self government and have regained jurisdiction of their reserve lands.

Andrew has over thirty years experience working on First Nation lands and self-government. Andrew has worked on land development, environmental protection, environmental assessments, additions to reserve and treaty land entitlement, economic development, specific claims, federal-provincial agreements, optional self-government legislation, taxation, infrastructure projects, reform of federal funding agreements, work with First Nations drafting laws and many other areas. Andrew was Canada’s lead lawyer on the Nisga’a treaty and has considerable experience with negotiations as well as drafting and has appeared on numerous occasions before Parliamentary Committees. Andrew is one of the authors of “Modern First Nations Legislation Annotated”, a legal publication which includes a chapter dealing with the Framework Agreement and the federal legislation which ratifies the Framework Agreement.

Andrew is married with two “kids” in post-secondary studies. Andrew has no time for his wide range of hobbies and interests which range from eternal home renovations to collecting vintage JBL studio monitors originally used by Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, to studying the history of the Nixon administration, as well as to international soccer and playing golf rarely, but always badly.

As a solicitor at Woodward and Company, Berry works closely with First Nations to negotiate, develop, and implement legal and administrative tools to support self-governance and protect their Indigenous traditions and ways of life. In doing so, her practice includes lands and environmental management, on-reserve housing, band governance, economic development, and employment law with a focus on assisting employer First Nations and Aboriginal groups.

Before coming to Victoria, Berry lived on a farm in the West Kootenays. She obtained an honours with distinction BA in Classical Studies from the University of Victoria and Boston College, as well as a J.D. from the University of Victoria, where she took an intensive Indigenous Legal Studies program.

As well as her current practice of Indigenous law, Berry is trained in civil mediation and family law mediation. Berry has been with Woodward & Company since 2004, when she first joined as a student. She was called to the BC Bar in September 2006, and the Alberta Bar in January 2011.

Berry is passionate about sharing knowledge and teaching. She regularly presents at conferences and workshops, has appeared as a guest instructor at UVic Law, and volunteers her time to speak to high school students and others about the law and Indigenous rights in Canada whenever the opportunity presents.

Murray has been involved in Aboriginal law and Treaty negotiations for nearly 20 years and is grateful to have had the benefit and honour of being educated by many wise First Nation leaders and elders. He is legal counsel for several First Nations in the forefront of Treaty negotiations and Land Code implementation, and also works on Specific Claims, and aboriginal rights and title litigation. He is committed to working with First Nations to use rights and title to leverage economic and community development.

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Murray has been on the forefront of many important developments for First Nations including the following:

• the first lawyer to work with a First Nation to use copyright law to protect petroglyph images;

• on the team of lawyers that worked with the Tsilhqot’in Nation to win a declaration of aboriginal title;

• worked with a coastal First Nation to negotiate, complete and implement a modern-day Treaty and to develop and implement over 30 new laws;

• worked to develop and implement the first First Nation Property Transfer Tax law in Canada;

• along with Holly Vear, worked a First Nation to develop the first Environmental Protection Law passed by a Land Code First Nation and to issue the first environmental protection order by a First Nation in Canada.

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Murray is on the leading edge of assisting First Nations to develop and implement their Land Codes and land laws. He has worked with over 25 First Nations who have taken over management and control of their own Reserve lands. Many of the templates for Land Code wording and Land Code laws that are in use today were developed by Murray working closely with First Nations to develop Land Codes, laws and policies that work for their communities.

Murray is committed to helping First Nations to protect their heritage and culture. He is on the Leadership Council heritage and culture committee, has dealt with numerous archaeological issues with the Arch Branch, and has successfully applied for trademarks to protect First Nation petroglyph images.

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Murray also has an extensive background in governance, land use management and taxation and works with First Nations on electoral codes, Land Codes, tax bylaws and laws, and implementation of good governance, taxation and land management practices.

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In his spare time, Murray plays piano, plays and coaches hockey and basketball and tries to keep up with teenaged children.

Kerrie Blaise joined the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) after completing her articles with the Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario in 2016.

She has a JD (2015) from Osgoode Hall Law School and was visiting student at the Allard Hall Law School at the University of British Columbia, as part of its inaugural global resource and environmental law program.

Kerrie’s background in ecological science, with an MSc from the University of Edinburgh, and Bachelor of Environmental Studies from York University, informs her case and law reform work at CELA, which includes environmental assessments for radioactive waste repositories and source water protection projects with First Nation communities.

Kerrie is also the co-founder of the Northern Ontario-based Ontario Wildlands Conservancy and sits on a number of boards, including the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance and Ghost Bear Institute.

Jennifer Predie is a member of Six Nations, Onondaga. She is a professionally certified First Nations Land Manager with an applied degree in Environmental Management and diplomas in Terrain and Water Resources. Jennifer began her professional career in 2000 as an Environmental Scientist with EBA Engineering Consultants in Edmonton, AB.

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In 2002, Jennifer moved to Regina, SK to work as a Fish Habitat Biologist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and in 2006, she transferred to the DFO Parry Sound, ON District office where she became their Senior Habitat Biologist. In 2013, Jennifer accepted a position as the Lands Manager for Wasauksing First Nation, located on Parry Island in Georgian Bay, leading the First Nation to the successful ratification of their Land Code in 2017.

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A proud Haudenosaunee citizen, Jennifer resides just outside Parry Sound, ON, in the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, specifically of the Wasauksing First Nation, with her husband, Jason, and six-year-old daughter, Ava.  Jennifer enjoys spending her summers boating and fishing in Georgian Bay, and her winters shuttling her daughter to her various after-school activities.

Stefanie Recollet is a member of Wahnapitae First Nation, in Northern Ontario. She is from the Crane Clan and a proud Anishinaabe kwe. Stefanie’s academic background includes a bachelors in Law, a certificate in Community Development and she holds numerous certifications related to land and environment management.

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She spent 6 years working in Environmental Management within her home community before moving to Waabnoong Bemjiwang Tribal Council as the Waste Management Coordinator. She has since joined the Resource Centre’s Environment and Enforcement team as the Solid Waste Specialist where she leads the development of strategies for improving environmental governance in solid waste and is a resource in law development, management planning, implementation and protections.

Michelle Delorme is a member of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation within Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatchewan.  Michelle attained her J.D. from the University of Saskatchewan where she concentrated her studies on First Nations legal issues and corporate law.

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After being called to the Bar of The Law Society of Saskatchewan in 2010, she worked in private practice and represented hundreds of residential school survivors within the Independent Assessment Process.  She has also spent time as an instructor within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan.

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Michelle’s practice has focused primarily on Aboriginal, environmental and corporate law.  She has experience in areas that are based exclusively on the legal issues of First Nations people across Canada, including Specific Claims, land and economic development, trust drafting and taxation law matters.  Michelle has appeared in all levels of court in Saskatchewan.  She is an advisor on the environmental and enforcement team for the Lands Advisory Board and Resource Centre.

During her spare time, Michelle enjoys playing and coaching hockey, golfing, CrossFit and watching football.

Gail Starr is a member of the Seabird Island First Nation in the Sto:lo (people of the river) Territory located the Upper Fraser Valley in BC.  Gail joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1987 she completed the Police training program in Regina, SK.

She was transferred back to BC working in Northern BC, after seven years she was posted to central BC, four years after that she was posted to her home territory in the Upper Fraser Valley. All Gail’s service was in First Nations Policing. After 30 years service Gail retired from the RCMP.  In 2017 Gail accepted a position with First Nations Land Management Resource Centre as the Environment and Enforcement Advisor for the BC. Region.

Gail, her husband and their daughter build a house on Gail’s family land on Seabird Island First Nation. They have a passion for camping, fishing, hunting and hiking.

Kevin Broughton served 33 years with Ontario Provincial Police now living in Thunder Bay Ontario.  Kevin served across Ontario in the capacity of Provincial Constable posted to Schreiber, Temagami, Rolphton, and Pembroke. Kevin was promoted to the rank of Identification Constable posted to the Kenora, London, and the Tillsonburg Forensic Unit.

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Kevin has worked extensively with First Nation communities throughout northern and southern Ontario. Kevin worked for the Ontario College of Trades as an Inspector, Manager of Investigations, Courts and Hearings and transferred to the position of Project Manager for their new Records Management system.

Some of Kevin’s Career Highlights:

OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Diver, Marine Operator, Certified in Clandestine Drug Lab Investigation, and handling of Chemical, Nuclear, Biological Warfare agents, Court Qualified to offer opinion evidence in all three levels of Court including at Coroner’s Inquest. As a member of the investigative team in the capacity of Forensic Identification officer, he was involved in many homicide cases, some being the largest high-profile homicide investigations in Ontario. Kevin was appointed and served as Fire Chief for 4 years in Temagami Ontario.

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Kevin enjoyed building his home in Thunder Bay with his wife, flying radio-controlled planes, fishing and riding his motorcycle a Honda Goldwing.

Cheryl Knockwood is an L’nu and proud citizen of the Mi’kmaw Nation. She received her B.A. (honours) in anthropology from the University of New Brunswick. She later earned an LL.B. from the University of British Columbia and completed her LL.M. in Indigenous peoples' law and policy at the University of Arizona. For 13 years, Cheryl worked as a senior policy analyst with the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs, where she gave strategic advice in areas such as fisheries, environment, treaty education and economic development to the Mi’kmaw, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy chiefs and communities. Cheryl was called to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Bar in 2009, becoming the first Mi’kmaq-speaking female lawyer in Nova Scotia. Currently, Cheryl is working for Membertou as a Governance Coordinator where she assists Membertou with the development of its laws in relation to Land Management and Citizenship.

Kathy McCue is a member of the Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario. Kathy has over 35 years experience in various aspects of First Nation administration and governance. She maintains a strong commitment to community development and enjoys the opportunity to provide technical support that improves capacity and furthers the objectives of First Nation communities.