Yvette Arcand Ms. Arcand is a member of the Beardy s & Okemasis First Nation in Saskatchewan and is an expert on Indigenous teacher education in Canada; she holds a Master s of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan. She has been with the Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP) at the University of Saskatchewan since 1998 and is currently the program s Associate Director. Yvette s research work includes studies of the research and policy environments surrounding Indigenous teacher education. Gladys Christiansen Mrs. Christiansen is a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and has spent most of her life in the La Ronge area. She is fluent in her Cree language and is proud of the rich cultural heritage handed down by her grandparents. She has over 30 years experience working in the area of First Nations education, as an educator, administrator and leader. She holds a Bachelor of Education and a Post-graduate Diploma in education. Mrs. Christiansen has previously served on numerous Boards, including the Provincial Literacy Advisory Board, Woodland Cree (Education & Training) Board, and the Northlands Regional College Board. In addition, she has been directly involved in formulating policy on First Nations education as a member of the Shared Standards and Capacity Building Council, the FSIN Directors of Education working group; and as a chairperson and vice- chairperson of the PAGC Directors of Education working group.
Dr. Ken Coates Dr. Ken Coates, a recognized scholar and champion of Indigenous rights, Dr. Coates is a professor of History and Canada Research Chair in the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan, as well as the Director of the International Centre for Northern Governance and Development. He has particular interests in subjects such as treaties, land claims, resource rights, economic development, and intercultural relations. He has served in many senior roles as a university of administrator, including Vice-President Academic and Dean, at institutions such as the U of S, the University of Waterloo, the University of Manitoba and the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Thomas Dignan Dr. Thomas Dignan has served as a pioneer in the health of Aboriginal people for more than 40 years. An Aboriginal healthcare advocate, he has mentored hundreds of health care professionals. A co-founder of the Native Physicians Association of Canada, he was the first president of the Native Nurses Association of Canada. An acting Community Medicine Specialist, Dr. Dignan has worked for Health Canada s First Nations and Inuit Health, Ontario Region for more than 10 years, at times, operating as the region s sole medical support. Dr. Dignan s pursuit of excellence and his many historic firsts in the medical field have been recognized through numerous awards: from the 2002 Queen s Golden Jubilee Medal; the 2005 National Aboriginal Achievement Award in Medicine; the 2006 Order of Ontario; and the 2012 Queen s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In addition, on October 20th 2016 Dr. Dignan was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Dignan directs his energies toward improving the health of First Nations people and drawing onreserve health issues into public focus. He also continues to contribute towards numerous national committees concerning health care and First Nations health. Dr. Dignan is a Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River and lives in Thunder Bay and Bracebridge in Ontario.
Dr. Alika Lafontaine Dr. Lafontaine is a prominent Indigenous physician and FNUniv alumnus. Dr. Lafontaine is the Medical Lead for Aboriginal Health Program (North Zone) and an Anesthesiologist for Albert Health Services. He is the President of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, which promotes culturally safe care for Indigenous patients. He is also a council member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Canada. In 2008, Alika won the CBC/Magna International competition for Canada s Next Great Prime Minister, and in 1999 he was the recipient of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Youth. John Paul Mr. Paul is the Executive Director of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Taking direction from the Atlantic Chiefs through frequent All Chiefs Forums and Executive Chiefs Meetings, Mr. Paul provides policy analysis and strategic advice on a wide range of policy issues facing First Nations in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec. The APC Secretariat s mandate is to research, analyze and develop alternatives to federal policies affecting its member First Nation communities. Mr. Paul has a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies and received his Master of Public Administration in Financial Management from Halifax s Dalhousie University in 1982. A dedicated advocate for First Nations, Mr. Paul has worked toward positive change for First Nations communities in diverse policy areas for more than 25 years. Mr. Paul plays a strategic role in his efforts to liaise between government and First Nations communities. He provides ongoing policy support and advice on First Nations issues in the areas of social wellbeing, health, housing, education, and economic development. His work includes negotiation and advocacy on measures related to the DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans), AANDC (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada), Health Canada, and other federal agencies. In recent years, Mr. Paul was a key First Nations advocate in his role as Treaty Mediator during the implementation of the Marshall decision. Prior to this, Mr. Paul provided consulting and advisory services as Director to the Self Government Secretariat at Health Canada. His current efforts in policy and advocacy are grounded in over ten years community-level governance at the Membertou First Nation, where he worked as a Councillor, Band Planner, and Development Officer.
David Sharpe, Chair Mr. Sharpe is President and Chief Operating Officer of Bridging Finance Inc. Prior to joining Bridging, Mr. Sharpe was the President of an investment management firm and led a TSX-listing in 2012 of 3 closed-end funds with a market capitalization of approximately $1.2 billion. Mr. Sharpe has close to two decades of financial services industry experience, in roles such as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Risk Officer for leading financial organizations, and previously was the head of investigations for the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada. Mr. Sharpe is a lawyer and has been a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada since 1997. Mr. Sharpe has an LLB from Queen s University, an LLM in Securities Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Masters of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. Mr. Sharpe is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Tyendinaga First Nation. Jocelyne Wasacase-Merasty Mrs. Wasacase-Merasty is an innovative communications leader with 14 years experience in communications, public relations, marketing and First Nations governance. She is currently the Prairie Regional Manager for the National Centre for First Nations Governance; and her professional experience includes serving as Director of Communications for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, and the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology. Mrs. Wasacase-Merasty was also the Managing Editor of the Saskatchewan Indian magazine for several years. In the governance area, she is a trained facilitator who delivers community-based workshops that are focused on Nation Building and First Nations governance systems that are based on First Nation Inherent Rights, culture and traditions. Mrs. Wasacase-Merasty has a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. She is a First Nation member of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation, is married to Robert Merasty, and is the proud mother of four sons. Mrs. Wasacase-Merasty is also a former Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC) student and a niece of the late Ida Wasacase, the first president of SIFC.
Elder: (Non-voting Advisor): William Ratfoot from Loon Lake; Margaret Reynolds, Beauval Saskatchewan. Student Representative: (Non-voting Observer): Brad Bellegarde, Regina Campus; Trevor Dubois, Northern Campus; Melanie Dene, Saskatoon Campus Faculty Representative: (Non-voting Observer): Dr. Angelina Weenie University of Regina Representative: (Non-voting Advisor/Observer): Glenys Sylvestre