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Jenelle identifies as Secwepemc, Tsimshian, Métis with Coureurs des bois ancestry (Southwestern Quebec, Outaouais & Laurentides, Riverere du Nord and Vaudreuil-Sovlanges French Settlers), Scottish, Spanish as well as French. Jenelle is of the Wolf Clan, and lives off grid, following her culture and traditions as taught to her through Elders. Jenelle enjoys arts and culture in her spare time such as brain tanning animals that they have hunted themselves. She uses the leather or rawhide to make moccasins, vests, bags, feather fans, beading, bracelets, drums and rattles, regalia, chockers, mask making and so much more. Jenelle attends cultural ceremonies and has been a dancer for 30+ years. Culture and spirituality are at the forefront of her daily living. 
 

Jenelle has been working with our Indigenous people for over 30 years in many different roles, as a First Nation’s Support Worker, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Specialist, Educator and Trainer, Trauma Therapist, Chemical Addictions Specialist Level 3, Aboriginal Foster Parent and Knowledge Keeper.  She has developed curriculum for Colleges and Universities throughout Canada.  She worked in the Downtown East Side for approximately 20 years.  Jenelle was also a residential firefighter as well as a trainer for firefighter’s, Level 1. Jenelle developed and published educational resources for children, youth and communities.  She is a National and International presenter having presented workshops throughout Canada, New Zealand, Rarotonga and the USA.  She has been a board member with Metis Family Services since 2012.

Blair has successfully worked for over 40 years in the Canadian and US Aboriginal/Native American community as a Registered Social Worker. He has contributed to community development; the creation of Aboriginal political organizations in BC; training alcohol and drug counsellors; managing a treatment centre; counselling, coordination, networking and collaboration among Aboriginal service provider organizations and agencies in Vancouver; and documentary film-making on such topics as alcoholism  recovery, Native American traditional dance, FASD prevention, and Native American history. Blair’s current enthusiasms and passions are FASD education and prevention;  improving services in child protection, and on-going support for children in care and their families.

Maria Reed

Native name: White Hawk Woman, given to her by the grandmothers.   
 
Maria’s heritage is Anishinabe from Red River Settlement on her father’s side, and Swedish on her mother’s side. Maria has been working with our Indigenous people for 20 years in many different capacities. She has held the Mètis seat on the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Health Council for 5 years and then went on to develop team building strategies and workshops for Seabird Island, and Mètis Family Services; while helping to create “Mission” and “Vision” statements.  Currently, Maria is working with MCFD as an Elder in “Circle 5”, and taking on the task of helping Indigenous people.  

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Maria is a Certified Life-skills Coach and Human Relations Counsellor, a Certified Employment Counsellor, a Laser/Light Therapy Practitioner, a Nutritional Consultant, and has a Master Cannabis Certification and a Provincial Instructor Diploma.   

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Along with the above, Maria is a mother of two beautiful daughters and has also been blessed with a granddaughter.  In her spare time, Maria enjoys watching her daughter play Fastball. She also loves to cook and enjoys migrating somewhere warm in the winter.
 

Glen Ohs

Born and raised in British Columbia, Glen is a proud Métis, with roots in the Red River Settlement through the Ross, Short and Malboeuf families. He has long been an active as a Métis Citizen serving the Métis Nation various capacities both volunteer and elected. With over 30 years management experience working in both domestic and international environments, Glen has extensive experience in strategic planning, annual capital and operations, budgeting, quality service delivery, people development, financial accountability and governance. During his career he has successfully cultivated strong associations significantly improving relationships with elected officials at the Federal and Provincial level, Indigenous Community Leaders, municipal leaders and regulatory agencies, both at the provincial and federal regulatory agencies. Acutely aware that Indigenous peoples have not benefitted from the same degree of socio-economic opportunities to the same degree as non-Indigenous communities Glen has dedicated a significant portion of his career to building capacity in Indigenous people through education, employment training and developing sustainable multi-generational economic development solutions. Glen presently resides in Langley, BC with his wife Elaine. They share 6 children and 21 grandchildren.

Jason Simmonds

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