Minister’s Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women

Minister Mary Polak with members of the Minister’s Council on Aboriginal Women at the first meeting of the Council on November 30, 2011. The Council will meet quarterly over the next two years.

The Council was created following the Collaboration to End Violence: National Aboriginal Women’s Forum which took place in Vancouver in June 2011 and was hosted by the B.C. government and the Native Women’s Association of Canada. On June 17, 2011, the B.C. government announced the creation of a Minister’s Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women. The Council will provide advice to the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation about how government can support Aboriginal women across British Columbia.

Two of government’s main goals are to provide a better future for B.C. families and also to support a strong economy and jobs. The aims of the Council support these goals. Aboriginal women have a key role to play in our society both as workers and as family members. When Aboriginal women are struggling with issues of health, well-being and safety,we know that it impacts their quality of life, their educational, social and economic outcomes. This affects individual women, their families and their children and affects our society in British Columbia.

The council will report to government through the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Mary Polak:
“It is important that the voices of Aboriginal women are heard when policy and programs directly affect them. Government doesn’t have all the answers and we have worked hard to seek expertise from every corner of the province to ensure that diverse viewpoints and cultures are represented, to allow the council to draw on a wide range of knowledge and experience.”

Council chair Wendy Grant John:
“To have Aboriginal women advising on matters that directly impact the day to day lives of women from across the Province is a positive step forward. There is a great deal of important work to be done, but I believe that we have assembled an excellent team. I am looking forward to working with all of these extraordinary women.”

Council Members

The Council’s Chair is Wendy Grant-John, a former chief from the Musqueam Nation and the first woman to be elected as vice-chief to the Assembly of First Nations.

As Chair, Grant-John will work with eight council members to examine how to improve the lives of Aboriginal women in B.C. and address the social and economic challenges that expose Aboriginal women and girls to violence.

In addition to the Chair, the Council consists of members from all parts of B.C. As part of the selection process, government consulted with B.C.’s Aboriginal leadership and a diverse range of Aboriginal people and advocacy organizations to identify women who could bring a variety of experience and wisdom to the role of advising government.

Charlene Belleau, Esketemc First Nation
Charlene Belleau of the Esketemc First Nation is from the Interior of British Columbia. She is a former Chief of her First Nation and is currently Director of the Residential Schools Unit of the Assembly of First Nations.

Mary Tegee, Takla Lake First Nations
Mary Tegee is from the Takla Lake First Nations in north-central B.C. She is the Carrier Sekani Family Services Director and provides cross-cultural training to agencies and individuals who offer services to the Carrier Sekani people. She believes that community wellness depends on nurturing tradition, cultural values and the environment.

Chief Kim Baird, Tsawwassen First Nation
Chief Kim Baird is from the Tsawwassen First Nation on the Lower Mainland. Chief Baird has served as Chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation since 1999. She successfully negotiated B.C.’s first urban treaty and has the distinction of being the first Aboriginal women to address the B.C. Legislature in October 2007 when the Tsawwassen Treaty legislation process was initiated.

Sophie Pierre, St. Mary’s Indian Band
Sophie Pierre is the current Chief Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission. She led the St. Mary’s Indian Band for 30 years as elected chief and was the administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council for 25 years. She has also served on the boards of many major organizations, including BC Hydro and the First People’s Congress.

Darlene Shackelly, Kwakiutl First Nation
Darlene Shackelly is the Executive Director of the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC. Darlene is from the Kwakiutl First Nation on Vancouver Island and is a member of the Nooaitch Indian Band. She has dedicated the last 28 years to working with the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia, and has been the Executive Director for the past 10 years.

Paulette Flamond
Paulette Flamond is from Northeast B.C. Paulette currently sits on the Native Economic Development Advisory Board for the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and is currently Vice-President of the B.C. Aboriginal Business Service Network Society and a Board Member of the Fort St. John Métis Society. In 2007, she was appointed to the Northern Development Initiative Trust and in 2009 was awarded an Aurora Award of Distinction as the Aboriginal Women of the Year as well as the Economic Developer of the Year by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers.

Debbie Williams, Cowichan Tribes
Debbie Williams is the Executive Director of the Hiiye’yu Lelum House of Friendship Association in Duncan on Vancouver Island, and has an urban Aboriginal focus. Debbie also serves as the Representative to the National Association of Friendship Centres Board of Directors, an ex-officio position to the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres Executive Committee.

For more information on the Minister’s Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women, call the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation; toll free on 1 800 880-1022