Lisa Abbott

Cree lawyer, Lisa Abbott, gifted with the Indian name, Thunderbird Woman Who Travels Through Land. She is from the Treaty Six Territory and member of the Pelican Lake First Nation, and a very proud mother of two beautiful indigenous daughters. She feels privileged to be a visitor, who is working and living, in the lower mainland of British Columbia, in the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), QayQayt First Nation, Kwantlen, q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen First Nations, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), and Stó:lō Nation.

Lisa earned her LL.B, Bachelor of Laws, from the University of Saskatchewan in 2005 and was called to the Ontario and Saskatchewan Bars in 2010. She has worked for the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) before starting her own law practice, in 2010.  For over a decade, she has grounded her legal practice on a deep commitment and passion for access to justice and toward ameliorating the intergenerational impacts of colonization and assimilation.

As a staunch advocate for culturally relevant trauma-informed lawyering, she has assisted hundreds of former students through the Indian Residential and Federal Indian Day School claims processes and represented clients in both Criminal and Family/Child Protection legal systems. She has advocated for her clients at the Provincial Court, Queens Bench and Federal Court levels. Lisa’s legal career, to date, has uniquely prepared her to be a champion for the transformative change envisioned by the BC First Nation Justice Strategy and she is so pleased to join the team as a Staff Lawyer with the Virtual Indigenous Justice Centers.

On her free time, she is exploring local farmers markets, cooking for her adult daughters (who may never move out) or hiking one of the many vast trails in and around the lower mainland Vancouver with her dog, Chewie.

Rachel Barsky

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) from the School of Journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) as well as a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.

Rachel has been a lawyer since 2014, following her articles at a national firm in Vancouver and her completion of a clerkship at the Alberta Court of Appeal. She has focused primarily on criminal justice law and policy, particularly involving claims of wrongful conviction. She is also experienced in research law and analysis in various areas of civil and commercial law. She has been named one of Canada’s 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.

Through more than a decade of work on R. v. Tallio (the BC Court of Appeal case of Phillip Tallio, an Indigenous man who was convicted in the second-degree murder of his cousin in the Nuxalk community of Bella Coola, B.C. in 1983 and who continues to maintain his innocence), Rachel came to recognize the urgent need for reform in both the federal and provincial justice and correctional systems, particularly with regard to the overrepresentation of Indigenous individuals.

Rachel is grateful to live and work on the unceded territories of of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), as well as the Syilx Nation (Westbank First Nation).

In her spare time, Rachel enjoys oil painting, travelling with her partner, eating as much sushi and chocolate as possible, and spending time with family and friends (both human and canine).

Curtis Bedwell

Curtis is an experienced policy analyst and advisor who is committed to supporting First Nations in advancing transformative change within the Canadian justice system and the strengthening of Indigenous justice systems in BC.

Curtis has several years experience working directly with First Nations and First Nations organizations as a consultant and employee. Curtis holds a B.A. (Honours) in political science from Simon Fraser University, and a M.A. in public policy and public administration from Concordia University.

Curtis is honoured to work on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), in addition to the Syilx Nation (Westbank First Nation).

Shelley Bevz

Shelley Bevz is Smelqmix from Lower Similkameen Indian Band. She is Sylix Indian and Blackfoot Lakota Cree. Her community is located next to Nighthawk, USA and spans from Vernon, BC down to Colville, Washington.

She has been a CPA since 1992, graduating from the College of New Caledonia in Prince George with a diploma in accounting and finance, attending the School of Chartered Accountancy of BC and Atlantic Canada, including a Certificate in Sustainable Indigeneous Communities from Harvard University.  Shelley brings 30 years experience in Finance, accounting and taxation in First Nations Government and Economic Development Operations.  International tax experience and corporate North America in multiple roles including natural resource, service, and non-profit sectors.

Says Shelley, “To me, home is any Indigenous person as we have that common bond and understand without speaking what it is to have suffered, survived, and thrived through our history.  As a knowledge-keeper, it is time to pass this information to others and mentor the way our grandparents mentored us with sharing, showing, and passing knowledge down.”

Shelley has had the opportunity to work with many First Nations in BC and Manitoba.  She has also been a facilitator for the CPA Western School of Business and AFOA/CPA Canada, among others, has set up Volunteer Tax Clinics for many non-profit entities and First Nations, and gives back as a financial literacy volunteer.

Says Shelley, “Indigenous people have always dealt with economics, the currency has just changed from currencies familiar to us such as fish, fur, meat, berries, shells, and ribbons – to the paper and cryptocurrencies of this new world.  As Indigenous peoples, we now find the balance to walk in both worlds and take back our sovereignty as we develop our own traditional laws through the education of a colonial government so that we are equal with our brothers and sisters from other Nations.”

In closing, Shelley says, “I am excited to be working with BCFNJC, an organization that is truly recapturing our peoples’ spirit and restoring us to our place in the world”.

Robin Busch

Robin is a proud Metis woman who was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.

She moved to the Okanagan in 2018 and is grateful to live on the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Sylix Nation.

Robin began her career in accounting before devoting much of her time to being a stay at home mom to her five boys. It wasn’t long before Robin discovered her strength and passion for advocation and began working as an Educational Assistant supporting high needs students within the school system. Shortly after moving to the Okanagan Robin pursued her other passion for law and moved into the legal field working as an assistant for a personal injury firm committed to achieving justice for injured victims.

Robin is honored to bring her knowledge and experience to the BCFNJC as we work to effect meaningful change for Indigenous people within the justice system.

Carlos Cabrera

Carlos Cabrera is a procurement and inventory management professional from the Dominican Republic (D.R.), who goes by he/him pronouns. Born and raised in the D.R., Carlos comes from a family with roots in Europe and Africa. He is the second eldest among seven siblings who now reside in different parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.

Carlos his wife Mehgan and daughter Carlani have recently moved to the Syilx Nation, where Mehgan grew up with her family in West Kelowna. Prior to joining BCFNJC Carlos had been running his own business in Victoria which he sold to return to the Okanagan in support of being closer to Mehgan’s aging parents. Carlos is incredibly grateful to be living and working on the beautiful traditional and unceded territory of Syilx Okanagan Peoples.

Carlos is deeply committed to achieving excellence in all aspects of his life and wants to make a difference in the world, one conversation at a time. He brings a rich background in procurement and inventory management from multi-national companies to manufacturing companies, and he is excited about the opportunity to contribute his expertise to the BC First Nation Justice Council’s important work. In his free time, Carlos enjoys hosting friends and family in his home, riding bikes with his daughter, and exploring new interests, like his family’s recent passion for pickleball.

Amanda Carling

Amanda Carling (she/her) is Métis from Red River, Treaty One. Amanda’s undergraduate studies were in criminology at the University of Manitoba (BA, 2007). Thereafter she joined the JET Programme and spent two years teaching high school English in Tosu, Japan. Amanda attended law school at the University of Toronto (JD, 2012) and articled with Innocence Canada (formerly the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted or AIDWYC). She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2013.

Amanda served as president of the board for Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto from 2014 until 2020. In 2014, Amanda launched Innocence Canada’s National Legal Education Program to forward the organization’s mandate to prevent wrongful convictions. The same year Amanda was appointed by the Attorney General for Ontario to the Debwewin Jury Implementation Committee. In 2016 she returned to the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law as Manager of the Indigenous Initiatives Office and Adjunct Faculty, where she oversaw the institution’s efforts related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action and taught a course on wrongful convictions. Amanda’s work in legal education was recognized by Precedent Magazine in 2020. Amanda has served on the Canada Committee of Human Rights Watch since 2016.

Amanda joined the BC First Nations Justice Council in March 2022 as Senior Policy Counsel. She was called to the Bar of British Columbia in May 2022. Amanda is grateful to live on the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan peoples with her partner Jesse, son Sam (3.5 years), daughter Joy (10 months) and her first baby, Jake the dog (12 years!!).

Michael Conlin

Michael Conlin is a proud member of the Syilx Okanagan Nation registered at Okanagan Indian Band. He joined the BC First Nations Justice Council in February 2022 as the Gladue Training and Education Coordinator.

In Michael’s past professional experience, he has been able to build strong relationships with training and education institutions in addition to supporting Indigenous clients in accomplishing their professional endeavours.

He has played an important role bringing both institutions and Indigenous people together resulting in training and education milestones in the Interior of BC. Michael is also a certified Career Development Practitioner which has provided him with the skills and experience to assist those in pursuit of training and education and he is looking forward to putting this background to use in his role at the BC First Nations Justice Council.

When Michael isn’t actively assisting indigenous people achieve their professional goals, you can find him coaching kids basketball at Okanagan Indian Band, producing and writing music or spending good quality time with his 2 dogs exploring unceded Syilx Okanagan Territory.

Clara Renault Teixeira Da Costa

Clara is a Brazilian lawyer who moved to Canada in 2021 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy and Global Affairs, in the University of British Columbia. After learning about the colonial impacts in the lives of Indigenous people in Canada, Clara became interested in learning more about First Nations history, culture, laws, and traditions. Having the opportunity to work as a policy analyst with BCFNJC is a great honor and an amazing learning experience for Clara.

Clara worked as an intern at the Prosecutor’s Office of Underaged Infractions, where she had the opportunity to get to know the socio-educational system. Worked as an Institutional Modernization Advisor at the Penitentiary Administration Secretariat of the State of Maranhão, one of the poorest states in Brazil, having followed the implementation of measures imposed by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights within the prison units of that state, which have already been considered the most violent in Brazil. She also has experience as teacher for children and teenagers living in the Brazilian favelas. Clara’s main interests are human rights, children’s and teenager’s rights, and gender equality.

Clara feels honored to live, study and work on the traditional unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), in addition to the Syilx Nation (Westbank First Nation).

Courtney Daws

Courtney was born and raised on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh). She is an ally, practicing lawyer, and strategic advisor with almost 20 years of experience working with and supporting First Nations across the country on legal, policy, governance, negotiation and political matters related to advancing self-determination and transformative change.

Prior to joining the BC First Nations Justice Council as the Provincial Director for Legal Aid in 2023, Courtney has held senior positions in the legal, political, consulting and social sectors, working for Indigenous peoples.

As the Director of Operations/Chief of Staff for five years at the BC Assembly of First Nations (2010-2015), and at the Assembly of First Nations – Yukon Region (2022-2023), Courtney had the opportunity to work with Indigenous communities in BC and the Yukon on strategic policy, governance and advocacy work – advancing First Nations’ positions in a number of areas including justice, governance, education, environment and climate change, Aboriginal rights and title, treaty rights, fisheries, child welfare and economic development.

As the Vice President, Governance and Policy, at Castlemain, Courtney led a large number of policy, program and governance review and development projects, as well as engagement projects with Indigenous communities and citizens over the course of six years (2016-2022).

Courtney has also practiced law at a boutique Aboriginal law firm where her work included Aboriginal rights and title litigation, modern-treaty negotiation, and leading community meetings with self-governing First Nations and incorporating that feedback to develop draft policies and procedures.

Courtney has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), with a focus on Aboriginal law, both from the University of British Columbia. Courtney is a practicing member of the Law Society of British Columbia (called in 2005) and was the recipient of the 2020 YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the category of Reconciliation – Ally.

Wesley Edwards

Sam Ens

Sam Ens was born in Prince George, BC, and continues to live, work and play in the traditional territories of the Lheidli T’enneh peoples.  Sam enjoys winter and summer recreational activities and the easy access to mountain biking, skiing and abundance of lakes and outdoor activities in BC.  He spent time growing up in both the Okanagan and Cariboo regions of BC and continues to have family in both regions.

Sam studied justice at Royal Roads University where his research focused on the over-representation of Indigenous people and systemic racism and prejudice in the justice system in Canada.  He identifies as Metis and understands both Indigenous and settler worldviews.  Sam has 30+ years experience working in the adult and youth justice systems, child welfare, homelessness, supportive recovery and supported housing focusing on services by and for Indigenous people.  Sam is enthusiastic to be a part of the implementation of the First Nations Justice Strategy.

Lorna Fadden

Lorna comes to the BCFNJC with a strong interest in criminal law and parent-side child protection, bringing with her an understanding of how colonialism continues to perpetuate violence on her clients. Prior to being a lawyer, Lorna was a forensic linguist, whose work examined how Indigenous clients experienced the criminal system, from arrest to conviction, through to incarceration.

She is the author of Communicating Effectively with Indigenous Clients, and Aboriginal Legal Services Publication. It is available at the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia. 

Lorna is also a proud Métis mother and grandmother.

Stephanie Favelle

Stephanie is the Legal Assistant with the Prince George Indigenous Justice Centre, providing support to the staff Lawyer.  She has worked in a variety of different legal fields and is honored to bring her knowledge and experience to the BCFNJC to assist her community and its residents on implementing the Justice Strategy.

Being of both Ts’il Kaz Koh (Burns Lake) and Vechigen (Switzerland) decent, Stephanie enjoys learning and celebrating the similarities and differences of both her cultures.  She brings this joy of exploration and discovery to her new life in Prince George on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh peoples.

Ashkaughn Forghani

Ashkaughn was born in Montréal and grew up in Victoria BC. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria and earned his law degree in Australia in 2019. During his time in law school, Ashkaughn interned at a criminal law firm in Queensland and was Vice President of a non-profit organization on the Gold Coast assisting other non-profits and charitable organizations. Through his time in Australia and work in Canada as a legal professional, Ashkaughn witnessed the intergenerational impacts of colonialism on the Indigenous peoples of Canada as well as Australia.

Ashkaughn completed his articles with the BC First Nations Justice Council and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in December 2022. He joins the BCFNJC as a Staff Lawyer for the Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre. Ashkaughn is honoured for the privilege to actively participate in the vision of the BCFNJC to promote access to justice for Indigenous communities of BC and more effectively protect the rights of clients experiencing injustices that have spanned generations.

Outside of his legal career, Ashkaughn is an avid swimmer and has trained and competed at the international level alongside Canadian Olympic medallists. He also enjoys surfing and has surfed on Vancouver Island, California, Hawaii, and throughout the east coast of Australia.

Marie Gaste

Marie joined the BC First Nations Justice Council in August 2020, as a legal assistant for the Prince Rupert Indigenous Justice Centre. She supports the staff lawyer in the area of criminal defence and child protection matters. Marie is responsible for the efficient management of client files, office organization and the securing of good client service.

Marie is a trained paralegal experienced in real estate, personal injury, ICBC defence cases, corporate files as well as wills and estate administration. She obtained her diploma in paralegal at CDI College and is a member of the BC Paralegal Association. In 2007, she was awarded a caregiver certificate through the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Marie continues to upgrade her skills set by taking courses at CLEBC.

She enjoys cooking, learning and exploring new recipes from various ethnicities. She plays music regularly, watches stand-up comedy shows and believes in finding therapeutic ways to maintain a calm, tranquil yet high-spirited mindset.

Kimberly Gee

Kimberly Gee is a practicing lawyer in BC and serves the BCFNJC in the role of Counsel, Information Management. Records and information are key assets for every organization that require management in accordance with industry standards.

With a personal passion for legal technology, knowledge sharing, and privacy issues, Kimberly welcomes opportunities to discuss the importance of First Nations data sovereignty, responsible information stewardship, and legally compliant recordkeeping.

Kimberly gratefully lives surrounded by rugged beauty in the traditional and unceded territory of the St’át’imc Nation in Lillooet, BC. She graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree from Thompson Rivers University in 2019. Prior to attending law school, Kimberly secured her Master’s Degree in Public History from the University of Western Ontario and was an Archivist. She later assumed the position of Records Management Supervisor at a First Nation government for many years where she led a transition from paper to electronic recordkeeping systems. Her past experience includes an internship in New Zealand and working with Westbank First Nation (Kelowna, BC), ‘Namgis First Nation (Alert Bay, BC), and the Upper Skeena Counselling and Legal Assistance Society (Hazelton, BC).

Kimberly also has an interest in restorative justice. A Gladue report writer from 2017-2022, Kimberly co-created healing plans alongside her Indigenous clients located throughout BC. Kimberly has seen firsthand the transformative results that Gladue reports can support in providing a holistic, culturally-relevant approach to justice that prioritizes accountability, healing, and relationship building over punishment.

The most rewarding work in Kimberly’s career has been, and continues to be, her work with and for Indigenous peoples. She is reminded regularly of the resiliency, humour, and strength of Indigenous peoples in her daily life.

Kimberly takes great pride in the opportunity to contribute to achieving better outcomes for Indigenous people in their interactions with the justice system and supporting Indigenous self-determination through the delivery of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy.

Cassandra Gouschuk

Cassandra Gouschuk (She/Her) is the Provincial Manager for Women and Child Protection. Cassandra joined the BC First Nation’s Justice Council in January 2023. Cassandra is a White settler and grateful guest on the Syilx territory.

Cassandra holds a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Youth Care Counselling from Douglas College. Cassandra has worked alongside Indigenous youth and families impacted by the Child Welfare system for more than 15 years. Cassandra is honoured to be a part of BCFNJC and their work toward reform of current systems and restoration of First Nations systems.

Craig Gulka

Craig Gulka is a highly skilled and versatile professional with a diverse background in the fields of electrical engineering and information technology. With over three decades of experience as an electrician and service technician, Craig has honed his skills in troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining complex electrical systems. His expertise in these areas led him to pursue a career in IT, where he currently works as a desktop and network technician.

Craig holds a CompTIA A+ certification, which demonstrates his proficiency in a wide variety of IT areas, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of hardware and software. He has a wealth of experience in IT support, network administration, and computer repair, and he stays up to date with the latest advancements in technology.

Craig is also a strong advocate for Indigenous reconciliation, and he is proud to work at the British Columbia First Nations Justice Council. His dedication to this important cause is a testament to his strong moral compass and desire to effect positive change in his community.

In addition to his technical skills, Craig is also an accomplished musician who enjoys playing the guitar in his spare time and also enjoys hitting the open road and embarking on exciting road trips with his wife Leslie. Craig also cherishes spending time with his grandkids, nurturing their growth and development with his love and guidance.

Kris Hickman

Andrea Hilland

Andrea Hilland, KC is a member of the Nuxalk Nation and holds an LL.B. and LL.M. from UBC’s Allard School of Law. She was called to the bar in 2003 and has advocated on behalf of First Nations in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon with respect to Aboriginal and environmental law. She was the Associate Director of the Indigenous Legal Studies Program at Allard Law. In 2013, Andrea became Policy Counsel with the Law Society of British Columbia and was integral to the Law Society’s reconciliation efforts, including the creation of a mandatory Indigenous intercultural course and a review of the Law Society’s processes to remove systemic barriers for Indigenous complainants and witnesses. She as volunteered with the Nuxalk House of Smayusta, the BC Human Rights Tribunal’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, the Continuing Legal Education Society’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee, and the Allard Law Innocence Project. Andrea joined the BC First Nations Justice Council in January of 2023.

Jennifer Isaac

Jennifer is a member of the Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation and is grateful to reside on the unceded traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. She holds a BSW of Social Work with an Indigenous Specialization from UNBC completed in 2021.

As an Indigenous woman, she embraces her life experiences which have provided the guidance to this important work. As a Gladue Report Writer, she is passionate about bringing justice to each person she is lucky enough to assist in writing and completing their Gladue reports. She advocates and strives to bring more awareness of the unique and systemic Indigenous experience that has continuously brought Indigenous individuals in front of the courts.

Jennifer is thankful to work with and for Indigenous people in British Columbia.

Lisa Joe

Lisa Joe is dedicated towards promoting and fostering the spirit of healing and well-being of all. Building strong, authentic partnerships has been a cornerstone of her career, and her approach to providing technical assistance is always one of respect, trust, and a shared vision for success.

Her traditional shared Coast Salish name is, “P’gaaltaanut” and she is a member of the Penelakut Tribe. Her mother was late Rosemary (Joe) married to Darrel Modeste and her late father was late Ramsey Alphonse Sr. of the Coast Salish people located on Southern Vancouver Island.

Lisa Joe served as a former elected leader of the Penelakut First Nation (2006-2010). She also served as the BC First Nations volunteer Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council Representative for one term. Lisa graduated with her Bachelor of Arts, from the University of Victoria, in 2015.

She brings over 15 years’ combined expertise in human resource development, organizational capacity development, governance, policy development.

Lisa is an avid outdoors person and bird photographer. She has three children and currently lives, works, and resides in the traditional territory of the Lekwungen and Wsanec Peoples of the Greater Victoria Region.

Adrienne Kovacs

Adrienne Kovacs (she/her) joined the BC First Nations Justice Council as the first in-house Recruitment Specialist in April 2023. After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Performance at the University of Lethbridge in 2007, Adrienne moved to Vancouver and began her career in Human Resources in 2008 at the University of British Columbia. After realizing her passion for HR, she decided to return to school in 2010 and completed a post-graduate diploma in Human Resources Management at Camosun College in Victoria.

Over the course of eleven years, Adrienne worked for three different BC public healthcare employers: Island Health, Interior Health, and the Health Employers Association of BC. From 2012-2017, Adrienne worked in various areas of HR, such as: Disability Management, Attendance Management, and Compensation & Classification; but in 2017 she discovered her true vocational passion when she started her first role as a Recruiter at Interior Health. Since then, Adrienne has recruited nearly every role within the public healthcare system. From 2019 onward she specialized in physician and medical executive recruitment and gained invaluable experience leading BC Ministry of Health recruitment programs for international medical graduates and internationally educated nurses.

Adrienne has lived all over British Columbia. She currently lives in the Syilx territory with her husband, their two daughters, and their cat & dog. Although Adrienne has always known herself as a settler, over the past several years her family has begun rediscovering and reclaiming their Ojibwe roots – which had been hidden and denied since approximately the 1960’s.

Outside of work, Adrienne loves to sing, dance, practice pilates, snowboard, travel, and spend time being silly with her two daughters who are still young enough to think that she is both cool and funny.

Chantelle Locke

Chantelle is one of the Regional Human Resources Managers for the BC First Nation’s Justice Council. She is grateful to work out of the head office in Westbank that is located on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Nation.

Having worked in Human Resources since 2012, she is honored to bring her experience to support the BCFNJC in a way that aligns with and supports the strategy, culture and values.

Chantelle earned her diploma in Human Resource Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, AB.  She is a General Member of Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of BC & Yukon (CPHR) and an Associate Member of AFOA Canada.

Chantelle’s Indigenous background is on her father’s side.  Her family belongs to Spô’zêm (Spuzzum) First Nation located in Nlaka’pamux territory. Her father has represented the Spuzzum community as Chief for over a decade. Growing up she has spent many hours with her family out on the land. In her spare time, she still enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors and on the land with friends and family

Charlene McLean

Charlene was born and raised in Prince Rupert in the unceded Territory of Tsimshian (Ts’msyen) Nation. Charlene is a member of the Metlakatla Band, which is one of the seven communities in the Ts’msyen Nation. She is married to a wonderful husband, and they are blessed with three beautiful children.

Charlene holds a lot of respect for elders and values their knowledge and wisdom that they carry and willingly share. Whether they are from her own community or from another Indigenous community, their presence orders her attention and respect. She also believes that the Indigenous youth are important to the vitalization of Indigenous culture, language, values and beliefs.

Charlene believes the knowledge and wisdom each Indigenous community holds, comes from their lived experiences, along with acquiring knowledge through the educational or professional institutes. Each individual community is unique to their culture, language and their individual stories. She has always had a passion to serve Indigenous people and has worked in the capacity to support people that are vulnerable and marginalized by institutions and society.

Charlene joined the BCFNJC in July, 2021, as a Gladue worker, at the Prince Rupert Indigenous Justice Centre. Her role as a Gladue worker is in the capacity to help facilitate Indigenous people at various criminal justice system stages. She also helps to facilitate tangible individual client healing plans to address their specific needs. Charlene works towards the individual’s strengths and builds on their positive characteristics, to promote their own supports for their health, safety, self-identity and resilience.

Charlene looks forward to serving the Indigenous people and being part of the BCFNJC in reforming justice for Indigenous people as a Gladue worker.

Tina Miller

Tina is a member of the Nisga’a Nation (maternal) and non-Indigenous (paternal) and has lived on Syilx territory also known as Kelowna and West Kelowna, B.C. for over 20 years.

She has a Bachelor of Business Administration (2016), has co-organized grassroots level annual MMIWG2S+ vigils in Kelowna (2014-2019) and has volunteered with the Patient Voices Network, BC Patient Safety Quality Council, and the Health Standards Organization of Canada (2017-2022).

Tina rejoined the BCFNJC in 2023 as Researcher focusing on the Indigenous Women’s Justice plan, she has worked as Administrative Coordinator, Gladue Coordinator and Training and Education Coordinator – Gladue Services (2019-2021) with BCFNJC. She has also worked as a residential support worker in homeless shelters, supportive housing, short-term interim housing, and rapid rehousing programs (2019-2022) working with adults struggling with a variety of issues including substance use and mental health. She also works part-time with the BC Society of Transition Houses as Research & Outreach Coordinator on the Cedar Blankets: Building Wraparound Supports & Reducing Barriers for Indigenous Women and Children to Transition Houses and Safe Homes which is a 5-year projected funded by WAGE (March 2022-current).

For over 20 years she has raised her four children as a single mother and is a Gigi to two grandsons. Being a mother and Gigi is one of her most important roles. Her children and grandchildren are her motivation and inspiration on breaking intergenerational cycles and healing, so much so, she got a tattoo that says, “Building children is easier than mending adults” on her left forearm as a permanent reminder to not give up on the inner work, for herself, her children, her grandchildren and future generations to come.

She is grateful and honored to be a part of the team at BCFNJC walking toward, “BC First Nations children and families thriving in peace and security, their dignity and well-being supported by a trusted and representative justice system.”

Tracy Mooney

Tracy Mooney is a Métis Nation BC citizen, and her pronouns are she/her. Her ancestors are from the Red River Settlement in Manitoba and her Métis family names are Favell, Mackay, Linklater, and Clark. Tracy was born and raised in Merritt on Nlaka’pamux Territory, and currently lives with her family in West Kelowna on Syilx Territory. She is grateful to the keepers of the lands on which she lives, works, learns, and builds relationships.

Before joining the BCFNJC as a Regional HR Manager, Tracy worked in Human Resources for over twenty years in the health system and spent the last four years of her career advocating for employment equity and improved experiences for Indigenous employees in mainstream healthcare.

Tracy joined BCFNJC in January of 2023 and is excited to support staff through the rapid expansion and growth of the organization. She brings with her a passion for advancing Human Resources, specifically recruitment, retention, and pathways to improve experiences for Indigenous job seekers and employees. She recognizes that a culturally safe workplace, focused on employee wellness will result in improved outcomes for the clients that BCFNJC serves. She is a general member of Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of BC & Yukon (CPHR) and an associate member of AFOA Canada.

Tracy considers herself to be self-reflexive, humble, and a lifelong learner on a journey of personal and professional growth. Outside of work, Tracy values time with her family, time in nature, and reading.

Erin Patterson

Erin brings over 12 years of experience in Gladue to the BCFNJC. Originally from the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, she grew up in Houston and moved to Prince George when she was 11. Erin has attended the College of New Caledonia studying criminology and social work before moving on to the University of Northern British Columbia, focusing her studies on social work.

Erin has been involved with several organizations in the Prince George community with a focus on serving members of the Prince George Indigenous community. She brings her passion and dedication to this new role for the Indigenous Justice Centre. She spends her free time dedicated to her family, husband and two children. She enjoys camping, fishing, kayaking and spending time outdoors.

Maiya Praegel

Maiya has a lifetime of being a geek, at first fixing the ancient and enchanting world of microwave-sized desktop computers to today’s supporting of the tiny connected creatures that live on our hand.

She loves spending time with horses who magically clear her mind, preparing her for the next event on the horizon.

Although she earned a BA in Justice related Studies from Royal Roads University and accomplished the Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate from Capilano University, she has found sustaining a continuing education throughout different subject areas just awesome in understanding the world around us (rumour has it she has a soft spot for teachers).

Maiya arrives to BCFNJC as part of a journey to be a better person, live a meaningful life, and be as helpful as possible to the First Nations communities of BC as one of their Legal Assistants within Merritt’s Indigenous Justice Center.

Stephanie Ringham

Stephanie is a certified Paralegal and the Regional IJC Manager for the Indigenous Justice Centres located in Merritt, Prince George, Prince Rupert, as well as the Virtual Centre.

Stephanie was born and raised in Kitimat, B.C. and is a member of the Haisla Nation.  She moved to the Okanagan in 2003 and is thankful to live on the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Syilx Nation.

Stephanie has worked in the legal field since 2005 and obtained her Paralegal Certificate with Capilano University in 2011.  She has worked in a variety of different legal fields and is excited to bring her knowledge and experience of the legal industry to the BCFNJC and to be part of the implementation of the First Nations Justice Strategy.

In Stephanie’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and enjoying the many outdoor activities the Okanagan has to offer.  She has one daughter that keeps her busy with her own extracurricular activities and together they enjoy learning and exploring their culture and implementing these teachings into their daily lives.

Amery Schultz

Amery was born and raised in Matsqui (Abbotsford) on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sto:lo Nation. He grew up within one block of the Matsqui First Nation not understanding why many of his friends who were “Indians” lived on this land called a reserve. This was not something that was taught in conventional school curriculum. Even though Amery grew up within a 10-minute drive of the St. Mary’s Indian Residential School in Mission, BC, he did not come to understand the horrors that Indigenous children faced when attending until much later in life.

In 2005, Amery moved with his young family to Merritt on the traditional and unceded territory of the Nlaka’pamux People. After tragedy struck his family with the death of their son Matthew, Amery sought out a career change and entered the social work degree program at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. It was in this time that Amery learned the true history of Indigenous Peoples in this land and the atrocities perpetuated against them, including ongoing systemic racism in criminal justice, child welfare, healthcare and so on.

Amery and his family identify as Metis and try to immerse themselves in local Metis and First Nations activities as much as possible. Amery approaches this work with two-eyed seeing, drawing on his lived experience as the descendant of white settlers and his extensive experience working with and living within Indigenous communities. Amery has spent the past decade working within poverty law advocacy, child welfare, homelessness, youth addictions and supportive recovery focusing on services by and for Indigenous people.

Amery is proud to be part of the dynamic BCFNJC team that is poised to affect a major paradigm shift in justice services for Indigenous Peoples in this country.

Jeff Shidei

Jeff Shidei’s parents immigrated to Toronto from Japan.  Jeff attended York University in Toronto to obtain his undergraduate degree before earning his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Saskatchewan.  Jeff has practiced in the areas of civil litigation, property law disputes, municipal law, human rights violations, family law, and child protection during his 13 years in private practice within the city of Kamloops, located on the unceded territory of  Tk’emlups te Secwepemc.

Now, living and working on the traditional territory of Lheidli T’enneh, and focusing on providing legal and non-legal services to members of the Indigenous communities within and surrounding Prince George, Jeff is grateful for the opportunity to advance the goals of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy and provide practical assistance and better outcomes for those members dealing with the criminal justice or child protection systems.

Rachel Smith

After earning her undergraduate degree from UNBC in Prince George, Rachel obtained her law degree from the University of Manitoba’s Robson Hall in Winnipeg. Rachel then returned to Prince George where she completed her articles. Called to the bar in BC in 2007, she commenced private practice the following year in Winnipeg, representing clients for many years primarily in the field of criminal defence. In 2015 Rachel opened a law office in the northern city of Thompson Manitoba. As part of that practice Rachel represented people charged with criminal offences in numerous First Nations communities in the surrounding area. Her work in the north exposed her to the harsh reality of life in Canada for the people in the communities she served and gave her a passion for true justice.

Rachel is excited to do her part to help increase access to justice for Indigenous people with the BC First Nations Justice Council, and to get involved in her new home community of Merritt where she will be the staff lawyer at the Merritt Indigenous Justice Centre.

Sandra Staats

Sandra Staats has enjoyed a varied legal career. Spanning more than 27 years, she has practiced in the areas of criminal, family, child protection, poverty, general civil litigation and Aboriginal law. She has represented clients in both the Provincial and Supreme Court of BC as well as the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Between 2003 and 2017, Sandra practiced primarily in the area of Indian Residential School litigation. She assisted with the negotiation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, represented claimants with their claims for abuse suffered at Indian Residential School and assisted as co-counsel for Independent Counsel, appearing in the Ontario Superior Court, Ontario Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada in an action to ensure that the confidentiality of residential school claimants was protected and that the release of records in residential school claims could only be done with the claimant’s consent.

Taking her role as a legal counsel seriously, she takes the time to listen and communicate with her clients as much as possible to ensure that they understand the legal process and that she provides effective legal representation.

Jaquelyn Stewart

Jaquelyn is Cree and Mohawk on her maternal side from the Michel Calahoo first nation. Born and raised on the unceded traditional territory of the Syilx peoples, also know as the Similkameen Valley.

She holds a CSW diploma with a background in mental health and addictions. Jaquelyn has a passion for uplifting and empowering our Indigenous communities while creating safe space for our people to heal and grow from decades of intergenerational trauma.

When she’s not working she is creating beautiful beadwork and spending time with her two pups.

Angie Still

Angie is originally from Whitefish River First Nation, she now resides as a guest on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa people (Fernie, BC).

Angie’s Anishnaabe heritage comes from their paternal side with the majority of their family coming from M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. As an avid snowboarder, mountain biker and outdoor enthusiast, Angie is extremely grateful to now call BC home. She cares deeply about Indigenous peoples and is looking forward to working with the BC First Nations Justice Council to invoke real change within the justice system.

Condesa Strain

E. Condesa Strain is from the lands and waters of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Syilx (Okanagan) and Secwepemc peoples. She grew up in the territory of her q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) and qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen) relatives. She is a proud mother of two children.

Condesa earned her Bachelor of Arts in Applied Criminology with Honours from Douglas College in 2018 and earned her Juris Doctor Degree from the Peter Allard School of Law in 2021. During her education she became passionate about the effects of colonialism on indigenous people and their contact with the criminal justice system. In 2020 Condesa worked as a student clinician at the Indigenous Community Legal clinic. And in 2022 she completed her articles with the Provincial Crown.

She cares deeply about making the process more relatable for clients. She is committed to bringing Respect, Reciprocity, and Humility into her practice.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family in nature and playing rugby in Vancouver with her club the Scribes.

Olivia Thomas

Olivia is a proud member of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation on her mother’s side and embraces her Métis heritage through her father’s lineage. Her traditional Dakota name is Šinákamina Ská Wiŋ, which translates to “White Shawl Shell Woman.” Gratefully, she resides, works, and enjoys her time on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw people. With a deep-rooted passion for writing that has been ingrained within her since childhood, Olivia pursued her education in Indigenous Studies and Creative Writing at Vancouver Island University.

As an Indigenous woman, Olivia intimately understands the hardships endured by her community, as her mother was a victim of the oppressive residential school system. This shared history binds her to the experiences of other Indigenous individuals across Canada, fostering empathy and connection. Olivia’s acute awareness of the systemic discrimination faced by Indigenous peoples fuels her unwavering commitment to restorative justice and addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous individuals in the criminal justice system.

Olivia revels in the joy of motherhood, nurturing and teaching her six children. She dedicates herself to preserving and revitalizing her ancestral language, imparting its wisdom to both her children and her. Olivia finds solace and inspiration in astrology, the wonders of the natural world, and her profound connection with all children and any animals, great and small.

Anisa White

Anisa White is the current Provincial Director of the Gladue Services Department at the BC First Nations Justice Council. Anisa was previously a Gladue Writer with the BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) Roster, as well as the Legal Aid BC Roster. Over the past eight years, Anisa has prepared Gladue Reports for the BC Supreme Court, the BC Court of Appeals, Indigenous Courts, Parole Board of Canada, Military Court and the Nunavut Court of Justice. Anisa produced the first Gladue Reports relied on by the Nunavut Court of Justice for a Sentencing and a Dangerous Offender designation hearing (2021/2022).

Anisa holds a BCom at the University of Western Australia (2004), a J.D. from Murdoch University (2009), and has completed a one year exchange program at the Faculty of Law, University of Victoria (BC) (2005-6). Anisa is an LLM candidate. She was accepted to the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, University of Arizona, in 2022, (currently deferred).

For the last 3.5 years, Anisa was the Technical Justice Lead for Lake Babine First Nation (LBN), the third largest First Nation in BC. Anisa oversaw the implementation of LBN’s Foundation Agreement, a tri-partite agreement. She co-developed a Nation-led justice model for the Lake Babine people, with the direction from leadership and LBN’s four clans. Anisa’s research interest is on Indigenous legal orders, the implementation of rights and title, and the application of a UN human rights framework to protect hunting and fishing practices, rooted in the LBN Batlats system of governance.

Anisa is Cree-Métis and Persian. Her maternal family name is Shirazi. Her paternal family names are Todd, Laframboise, Daniels, Cardinal and Desjarlais. Anisa’s family are members of Métis Nation Alberta. Anisa’s grandfather and great grandparents spoke Plains Cree, French and English. Anisa’s father is from Edmonton, Alberta. Her grandfather was born at St. Paul des Métis Settlement and her great grandmother was born at Goodfish Lake Reserve (northeastern Alberta), while her great grandfather was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, during the Riel Resistance. Her great, great uncle, Francois Desjarlais, known as Chief Piyesis of Piyesis First Nation/Lac la Biche Band, (Lac la Biche, Northeastern Alberta), was a signatory to Treaty 6, in 1876. Anisa currently resides on Vancouver Island. Anisa is learning to speak basic conversational nêhiyawêwin (Cree), attends sweatlodge ceremonies, pow wows with her twin sons, and is a Métis jigger and an initiated Jingle dress dancer.

Delaine Zwiek

Delaine Zwiek is a Treaty 8 woman from Métis and German families who was born and raised as an uninvited guest on the traditional territory of the Dane-zaa in northeastern British Columbia. Delaine’s Métis family name is Boucher, and they are from St. Louis, Saskatchewan near the historic Métis site of Batoche. The Boucher family is originally from France and has been traced back to 1634 when Marin Boucher arrived in what is now known as Quebec City. Many generations later, the Boucher family was part of the Red River settlement and rebellion before moving west to establish their own community called St. Louis around 1880.

Delaine graduated in 2015 from the University of British Columbia with a Juris Doctor degree. Over the last decade, she has worked with organizations such as the UBC Indigenous Community Legal Clinic, BC Assembly of First Nations, BC Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General – Policing and Security Branch, Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, and Alderhill Planning.

As the Provincial Director for Policing, Oversight and Accountability, Delaine is honoured to work for First Nations on community safety and police transformation. Delaine acknowledges with respect the ləkʷəŋən̓ and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples and their traditional territories where she lives with her wonderful husband. Outside of the office, Delaine can be found out on the land recharging and exploring the territories.