Presenters

Kitasoo Xais Xais NationThe rich textured tone of singer songwriter Hayley Wallis’ voice has an unmistakable confidence that is immediately recognizable. Hayley delivers a powerful emotional performance that evokes a response as dynamic as her vocal range. She is part of the Kitasoo/Xaixais Nation, originally from Klemtu, a small isolated island located in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia. Hayley is well on her way to breaking into the scene with her debut EP Halulu, a collection of relatable soulful pop gems focusing on her passion for storytelling – all while showcasing her immense talent as an R&B pop singer. With multiple singles reaching #1 on NCI’s Indigenous Music Countdown, alongside various adds to SiriusXM’s Indigiverse & Poplandia, and the “Indigenous” Spotify Editorial, this emerging star is poised for much bigger horizons.

Bubbas Comedy/Rez Comedy

• TV Special: Comedy Invasion by Margin Films
• TV Special: Rez Comedy by Margin Films and Rez Comedy Ltd
• Indigenous Peoples Day in Nome, Alaska
• Winnipeg Comedy Festival
• Kenan Thompson Pop Up Comedy Fest in Toronto
• Guelph Comedy Festival in Guelph, Ontario
• Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Vancouver
• Just For Laughs Vancouver Showcase X2
• Semi Finalist @ FunneyFest Comedy Competition in Calgary, Alberta
• Many First Nations on Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland, Interior and Cariboo Region.

(She/Her) is a distinguished Indigenous business leader, author, and
visionary strategist of Nuu-chah-nulth descent from the Hesquiaht Nation on Vancouver Island. She is the founder and CEO of the Indigenomics Institute, the Global Centre of Indigenomics, and the Global Indigenous Technology House. Hilton is renowned for pioneering the Indigenomics movement—a transformative economic framework rooted in Indigenous worldviews that emphasizes relationality, sustainability, and collective prosperity.

Hilton coined the term “Indigenomics” in 2012, evolving it from a social media hashtag into a global movement that repositions Indigenous Peoples as central contributors to modern economies. Her acclaimed book, Indigenomics: Taking a Seat at the Economic Table, articulates a bold vision for a $100 billion Indigenous economy and serves as a blueprint for economic reconciliation. The book was shortlisted for the 2021 Donner Prize and is widely regarded as a foundational text in Indigenous economic thought.

With over two decades of experience in Indigenous economic development, Hilton has advised national and international institutions, governments, and corporations. She has served on the Canadian Economic Growth Council and the BC Emerging Economy Taskforce, and currently holds directorships with the McGill University Institute for the Study of Canada, Earth Charter International, Innovate BC, and the TELUS and Bank of Montreal Indigenous Advisory Councils.

Hilton’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the
Mastercard Game Changer Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Nation Builder Award from the National Angel Capital Organization, and the Award of Distinction in Indigenous Business from the BC Achievement Foundation. She is also an adjunct professor at Royal Roads University’s School of Business, where she continues to mentor the next generation of Indigenous leaders.

Through her leadership, Hilton is reshaping economic narratives to center Indigenous knowledge systems, fostering inclusive growth, and building pathways for multi-generational Indigenous wealth and well-being.

(He/him or they/them) is Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, raised on the unceded territories of the Squamish Nation in North Vancouver, B.C. A lifelong advocate for progressive solutions, he has dedicated his career to stronger Indigenous governance, language revitalization, and 2SLGBTQIA+ empowerment.

Passionate about cultural resurgence, Khelsilem founded the Squamish Language Adult Immersion Program with Simon Fraser University in 2016. The program has since enrolled more than 70 learners, many of whom now teach and run the school themselves, accelerating the revival of a critically endangered language.

First elected to the Squamish Nation Council in 2017 and acclaimed Chairperson in 2021, Khelsilem oversees billion-dollar real estate projects, such as Sen̓áḵw, drives policy reforms that embed openness and accountability, and advances Nation-led climate and housing strategies. He serves on various intergovernmental working groups, including those involving local governments, where he has most notably worked to implement Indigenous rights based on the principles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) through the City of Vancouver’s UNDRIP Action Plan.

Within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Khelsilem—also known as Salish—co-founded the Vancouver Kiki Ballroom Alliance and produces landmark queer Indigenous events, such as Hotlatch and Kiki Balls, including the Supernatural Kiki Ball and the Detention Kiki Ball. These gatherings celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ culture, arts, and identity.

Starting in fall 2025, he will pursue a Master of Public Administration through the University of Victoria, sharpening his professional toolkit and strategic insight to leverage principled governance as a powerful engine for social good.

Chastity Davis-Alphonse is a mixed heritage woman of First Nations and European descent. She is a proud member of the Tla’amin Nation and married into the Tsilhqot’in Nation.  Chastity is sole proprietor to her own multi-award-winning consulting business.   She has worked with 100+ First Nation communities in British Columbia and several well-known corporations, companies, not-for-profits, and Indigenous organizations.  Chastity’s work is completed in the spirit of reconciliation and focuses on building knowledge and capacities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals, organizations, communities, and governments.  

Chastity’s approach is from an Indigenous women’s lens.  She is on the leading edge of Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis Plus (IGBA+) in Canada working with the federal and provincial governments, Tsilhqot’in National Government, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, and several others to weave the Indigenous women’s lens into their daily practices including Impact Assessment processes, policies, and procedures.  

Chastity is creator and visionary of “Deyen – An Invitation to Transform” – one of the only online learning platforms in the world that centers the wisdom, knowledge, and lived experiences of the original Matriarchs of the lands often called Canada.  She is also Editor of one of the only Indigenous Business Magazines in Canada titled Makook pi Selim (Chinook Jargon/Language) published in partnership with Business In Vancouver (BIV). Makook pi Selim is in its second year of publications and features 100% Indigenous writers and covers a wide and deep variety of topics as they relate to Indigenous Peoples and economic development.  

Chastity has a Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communications, a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication, and a Diploma in Marketing Management & Professional Sales from BCIT.   Chastity is also a certified yoga teacher in two modalities:  Yin and Kundalini.  She weaves the ancient practice and philosophy of yoga into her personal and professional life.