Election

Hello (Je aa Haanache) Valerie Askoty is the daughter of John and Janice Askoty and the granddaughter of George and Annie Chipesia and Albert and Alice Askoty.

She was nominated for and successful in becoming the Chief of Prophet River First Nation in 2021 and 2024. Valerie is a strong female leader in this Beaver Nation and is very thankful and grateful for the support of her family and friends not only throughout her life. She has benefitted a great deal from the wisdom of her grandparents and her mother and remembers them fondly. John, or Jack Askoty, as he is known by is a strong member of the Dene-Zaa drummers and continues to share his wisdom.

Valerie is a firm believer that strong communication and transparency is vital and she has established opportunities to communicate regularly with all members so they are connected to what is going on in our nation, regardless of where they live.

Valerie has held several positions in her community over the past eight years and she understand how each department runs. She has seen how to work with members, businesses and other levels of government. Her previous experience as a bookkeeper for 23 years has helped her to understand the dynamics of running various businesses.

In her first term as Chief, she was instrumental in successfully completing a Comprehensive Nation Plan along with a host of other achievements that the community saw as their needs and wants. Through strong communication and transparency she will move the Goals of the CNP forward for the benefit of the members with due diligence and with the community at heart.

Valeries proudly promotes and protects her community to ensure that its members are healthy, strong, and united so that they can go far together in making the future brighter for generations to come. All this comes as a result of access to a healthy lifestyle, strong leadership, and economic development.

Valerie recognizes that not all members live on community for a variety of reasons and works hard to ensure all members feel welcome when coming home to visit or to move back to the community.

One of her promises to her nation is to continue to think fairly for all our people and look at all sides of the story before consciously making a decision that will affect the short to long-term future of the nation; a lesson she has learned from her parents and grandparents.

Recently, believing in lifelong learning, Valerie took the opportunities to participate in professional development; the Harvard Business Leadership Certificate and a Governance leadership course; sponsored by NENAS and MNP respectively.

Valerie knows that hard work goes a long way and she has always shown her willingness to do that hard work and to bring to the community her very best.

Like too many others, Valerie’s life has seen its share of tragedy. When Valerie lost her oldest brother to suicide, she took strength from his memory and founded the Clayton Askoty Memorial Society. This society hosts a slo-pitch tournament every year and donates the earnings to men’s mental health and suicide awareness. She sits on this Board as its Chair.

Valerie also represents her nation on the Board of Directors for the Sikanni River Ranch, presently a commercial Guide Outfitting area owned by the Nation. She hopes to see it as a location that will host events, seminars and camps to support mental health, healthier living choices and bring the nation closer to its culture. Wuujo – Thank you

Cheryl is a council member and Vice-Chief for the Nstla’tko, Coldwater Indian Band, and a negotiation -representative for Nstla’tko, Coldwater Band. She is also Chairperson of the Coldwater School Education Committee and worked nine years as the District Support and First Nations Support worker for School District #58 (Nicola-Similkameen). She holds a House of the Moon Certificate and has organized MMIWG2S Community Awareness Walks in Merritt, among other activities. Cheryl is a Cultural development leader and business owner of The Cave Clothing and Lionz Lash Studio in Merritt, BC.

Cheryl is strongly committed to:

• Governance, Human Resources, and Policy Development
• Language and Culture/traditional teachings from Indigenous knowledge keepers and Elders
• Raising awareness of all missing men, women, two-spirited, and children in our Nations
• Healing for Residential School survivors
• Advocacy for children in care and safety programs for vulnerable youth and young adults in the current drug crisis.

Cheryl’s Journey:
Cheryl’s journey began on the Coldwater Indian Reserve in the territory of the Scw’xmx (People of the Creeks) Nłeʔképmx people. Descended from a long line of Nłeʔképmx ancestry, she spent much of her life hunting, fishing, and harvesting medicinal and food plants with her family. This instilled in her a deep love and respect for the Tmix (the land). The teachings she learned as a child provided her with the critical judgement, principles and strength not just to survive but to help and teach others. Having grown up with and lived through the intergenerational trauma that was a legacy of the Indian Residential Schools, she came to see that finding the balance between traditional knowledge and Euro-Canadian educational methods is a path toward healing for future generations. Cheryl’s Nłeʔképmxcin name is syəmyịm (Rainbow) given by her Grandfather.

Cheryl’s Mission:
A trustworthy, transparent, and strong voice for human rights, universal dignity, environmental justice, compassion, and the rights of Indigenous people.

Chief Jerry Jack is Klakwagiila and comes from the House of Tsee-sah-aht. He is a Hereditary Chief from Mowachaht/Muchlaht First Nation (MMFN). Chief Jack has over 40 years of experiences in working on First Nations issues including justice, policing, governance, fisheries and environmental management.

Chief Jack was born on Vancouver Island, and served 21 years of police service with the RCMP. He also served with the Quinalt Tribal Police and Makah Tribal police in Washington State. In 2000, his late dad (Jerry Jack) held a 2-day potlatch and gave him his Chieftainship. When Jerry Jack, Sr. passed in 2006, hisuncle, Ben Jack acted as Chief Councillor at MMFN in his political seat. Five years ago, Chief Jack reclaimed his political roll with MMFN and supports his people to defend their rights and title, under their hereditary system and under the Indian Act.

Chief Jack has been involved with various political organizations including the BCAFN, UBCIC and First Nations Summit; his nation is also part of the Nuuchah-nulth Tribal Council which is active in protecting the nation’s forestry, fisheries and marine resources. In addition, he has worked with the First Nations Health Council and FNHA throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Jack brings valuable insight to the BCAFN Board and Regional Chief on issues surrounding fisheries, policing, forestry and governance. Specifically, he’s very familiar with the marine spill response having acted as the lead for MMFN in Nootka Sound when a 60 year old vessel began leaking oil – he worked on the ground in collaboration with community members, DFO and the Coast Guard to ensure the environment, and First Nations’ rights and responsibilities were respected, protected and supported. He lives in Gold River and can often be found in Campbell River, Nanaimo, or Friendly Cove on the west coast monitoring territorial waters.

Nasuʔkin (Chief) Donald Sam is Ktunaxa from the ʔAkisq̓nuk First Nation. He has served his community from 2014-2020 and has served as Chief since 2022.  He serves his community with a commitment to strong governance that reflects traditional values that will have a positive impact to quality of life of community members.

Donald attended the Center for Indigenous Environmental Resources in Winnipeg Manitoba earning a certificate in Environmental Protection, Assessments and Education. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Salish Kootenay College, and attained a Master degree in Business Administration from Gonzaga University. Believing education is not only found in the classroom; Don also dedicated his time to learning language, culture and history from his Elders and knowledge holders.

Donald, was a partner in starting and operating a Cultural Resource Management firm, determined to humanize the field of archaeology. After returning to BC Don was the Director of the Traditional Knowledge and Language Sector for the Ktunaxa Nation Council. In this capacity, Donald sought to address some of the trauma that stands in the way of learning Indigenous languages and foster a community that is conducive for the transmission and perpetuation of the Ktunaxa language and Culture in the hearts and minds of the people.

With Don’s strategic, progressive leadership style, ʔAkisq̓nuk was able to develop a housing strategy that was successful in the first new construction in over 20 years, and ultimately saw 18 new housing units. Enacted a Financial Administrative Law to promote transparency, trust and accountability. Implemented policy that put sweat-equity towards addressing housing arrears. He is experienced in Child and Family Services, Economic Development, Governance and Finance.

Donald is a strong advocate for mental wellness, lateral kindness, Trauma informed Approaches to service. He is a strong believer in Self-determination and Self-government, determined that cultural survival is grounded in community reparations and strengthening.