Douglas S. White III, K.C.

Douglas S. White III, K.C., is the chair of the BC First Nations Justice Council.

Douglas is a practicing lawyer and in addition to serving as First Nations Justice Council chair, he is co-chair of BC’s Provincial Advisory Committee for Indigenous and Specialized Courts and Related Initiatives.

His Coast Salish name is Kwulasultun, his Nuu-chah-nulth name is Tliishin and he is a member, former Chief, and current councillor and negotiator of the Snuneymuxw First Nation in Nanaimo, BC. After completing his B.A. in First Nations Studies (with distinction) from Malaspina University-College (now Vancouver Island University), he graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 2008. He has been granted distinguished alumni awards from both Vancouver Island University and the University of Victoria, has been a director of the Indigenous Bar Association of Canada and an associate lawyer at Mandell Pinder.

Douglas was also elected to lead the First Nations Summit as a member of the FNS Task Group. In that role, he was also a member of the BC First Nations Leadership Council working on common issues with BC First Nations and advocated on their behalf with the governments of British Columbia, Canada and internationally at the United Nations. He is the former director of the Centre for Pre-Confederation Treaties and Reconciliation at Vancouver Island University and, today, along with his role as the BCFNJC chair, he also practices as a lawyer and negotiator across the country for First Nations governments.

Rosalie Yazzie

Rosalie C.N. Yazzie, barrister and solicitor, Nesika Law

Rosalie Yazzie is Syilx from the Okanagan Indian Band with ancestral ties to the Secwepemc Nation. She is the vice-chair of the BC First Nations Justice Council and a 12-year member of the Bar Association. Rosalie holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University.

Ms. Yazzie owns and operates Nesika Law Corporation which specializes in Aboriginal law, title and rights and Nation rebuilding. She is a passionate champion for Nation building approaches based in traditional governance values, customs and First Nations legal traditions. Her firm supports First Nations clients to achieve their governance and institutional development goals through sound policy, strategic engagement and communication.

Ms. Yazzie applies a unique lens to her practice, earned through decades of professional experience in First Nations political advocacy, human rights and social development issues including – child welfare, health and education.

Ms. Yazzie currently serves general counsel to the Chiefs Executive Council of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and is a member of the Law Society of B.C.’s Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Committee.

Boyd Peters

Boyd Peters, director, Sts’ailes’ Rights and Title Department

Boyd (“Xoyet thet”) was born and raised in Sts’ailes and has been elected to Council for more than 20 years. He is responsible for looking after Sts’ailes’ Xa’xa Temexw—an expression that conveys the spiritual, physical, and cultural connections that the Sts’ailes people have with the land, water, and resources in their territory.

After Boyd carried out the 1998 community consultation for the Elbow Lake Aboriginal-focused facility in partnership with Correctional Service Canada (CSC), he was hired as the transition coordinator, became executive assistant to the Chief in 2002 and is now the Aboriginal Rights & Title director. Boyd has also been an active member of the Kwìkwèxwelhp Citizens Advisory Committee and was appointed chairperson in 2006.

Boyd is quoted in the document Kwìkwèxwelhp and Sts’ailes, A Historical Journey in Healing Aboriginal Offenders that “a common understanding of our people is that our strength is derived from our culture and spirituality. We are a prosperous First Nation that has developed many innovative made-in-Sts’ailes programs and services and are glad to provide these culturally appropriate services for the Kwikw’te’alex (Elbow Lake Brothers). We recognize that our brothers are vastly over-represented in the prison system and believe that our people have the capacity to help offenders in their healing path. We are open to sharing our cultural and traditional forms of healing for the reintegration of offenders into their home communities. The safety and well-being of all our communities benefit. It is a mutually-beneficial relationship that has gained national and international recognition.”

Dr. Judith Sayers

Cloy-e-iis, Dr. Judith Sayers is President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and Chancellor of Vancouver Island.  She is also an adjunct professor with the Gustavson School of Business and the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria.

Judith has been the Visiting National Aboriginal Economic Development Chair and an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Victoria and in that role facilitated economic development with indigenous peoples Judith practiced law for 18 years in both BC and Alberta.

Judith served fourteen years as Chief of the Hupacasath First Nation, located in Port Alberni, BC.  As Chief of her First Nation, she focused on capacity building and sustainable development.

She is on the board of the BC Achievement Foundation and the BC First Nations Justice Council.

Judith has been inducted into Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame, has been the recipient of the Bora Laskin Fellowship on Human Rights, a Finalist for the Buffet award for indigenous leadership and twice awarded the Woman of Distinction from the Alberni Chamber of Commerce. She has received the Silver Award from the Canadian Environmental Association for Climate Change and is also a member of the Order of Canada.

Kory Wilson

Kory Wilson (Kwakwaka’wakw), BSc. JD, is the Executive Director of Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships for British Columbia Institute of Technology. Kory is a member of the BC Law Society and she practiced criminal defense and family law. She is Chair of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics Indigenous Affinity Group. Kory has over 20 years of experience in post-secondary education, community development, and legal profession. Good governance is a specialty and a passion. She serves on several boards from Pearson College, BC Women’s Foundation, Downie Wenjack Fund, Future Skills Canada, to the Genome BC.

A sought-after speaker and strategist on advancing and ‘truth-telling’ about the past and moving forward towards Reconciliation. With a deep commitment to education, both formal and informal, she knows innovative and creative solutions are a must to move Reconciliation into ReconciliACTION. Education and access to knowledge are key to move everyone forward. When people know better, they do better. Diversity is a reality, but inclusion is a choice. Inclusion requires bold and courageous conversations and confidence to ensure systemic change and outside the box solutions. We can and must do better – Canada can and must do better. Together we are stronger.