Team

Current Board of Directors

Michael Bonshor
Principal, Visions First Nations Financial Services

Michael Bonshor, C.M.A., is a member of the Tsawataineuk First Nation of Kingcome Inlet, BC.   As Principal owner of Visions First Nations Financial Services, he has been working with First Nations to develop their capacity in governance, financial management, economic development, and land and resource management in various capacities since 1998.   Michael is currently the Chair of the Province of BC’s Native Economic Development Advisory Board (NEDAB).







Dawn Farrell
Executive Vice-President, TransAlta Corporation

Dawn Farrell joined TransAlta in July 2007 as Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations & Development, reporting to the CEO.  She leads all commercial operations across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Australia, including marketing, trading and origination, commercial portfolio management and purchased fuel supply, as well as strategic planning and portfolio development.  Prior to returning to TransAlta where Ms. Farrell previously worked for more than 17 years, she spent the last 4 years at BC Hydro.  Ms. Farrell has a bachelor of commerce degree with a major in finance and a master’s degree in economics. She also attended the advanced management program at Harvard University.

Nathan Matthew, Chair

Nathan Matthew is a Secwepemc person who has represented the Simpcw First Nation for 18 years as Chief. He has served two terms as chairman of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and is the past president of the Secwepemc Economic Development Corporation. Nathan is currently the president of the Simpcw Development Corporation and is the senior political advisor to the B.C. First Nations Leadership Council on education issues. Nathan works with the B.C. First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association on education jurisdiction and national education policy development.






Gloria Morgan (Yaw Yawt all Xa Xa7 t’e Boonllp)

Gloria Morgan, Yaw Yawt all Xa Xa7 t’e Boonllp, former Chief of the Spallumcheen (Splats'in) Indian Band, was born in Enderby, BC. She attended public school in Armstrong, Enderby and Vernon and residential school in Cranbrook. From the age of 12, she worked in many areas ranging from a fruit picker in orchards, playschool assistant, waitress, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer, lawyer, and was Chief for four years. She received a Law Degree from the University of British Columbia in 1994 and was called to the bar in 1995. She is currently a non-practising lawyer, but during her eight years of practice she specialized as a criminal defence lawyer, and also was a Crown Prosecutor.  Ms. Morgan continues to serve on several Boards including President of the Enderby & District Chamber of Commerce, the Commanding Officer of “E” Division Aboriginal Advisory Committee, and Provincial Community Coordination for Women’s Safety.  Gloria also works as a consultant, mainly in the area of aboriginal rights.



Yvonne Smith
Executive Director, Northern Shuswap Tribal Council


Yvonne Smith, Executive Director with the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council in Williams Lake, is a status first nation of Shuswap decent. Prior to Northern Shuswap Tribal Council Ms. Smith was the Executive Director for Cariboo Chilcotin Aboriginal Training Education Centre. Ms. Smith's interest in working with first nations is also demonstrated in her community involvement. She is past a member of the Native Economic Development Advisory Board with the Provincial and serves on Committees for the High Bar Indian Band, and has held directorships with the Cariboo Friendship Centre, Community Skills Centre, Community Future, Cariboo Economic Action Forum and Williams Lake Minor Fastball.




Kathryn Teneese, Vice Chair
Chief Negotiator, Ktunaxa Nation

Kathryn Teneese is a citizen of the Ktunaxa Nation and has represented her community as chief negotiator in treaty talks for the Ktunaxa Nation since 1996. Ms. Teneese has held senior-level positions with the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association, Pacific Planning Symposium Secretariat, the Centre for Indian Training and Research, the First Nations Congress and the First Nations Summit.

                                                                        

                                                                        

Terry Kuzma, Director
 Manager, Carrier Lumber Ltd.
                                                                         

Mr. Kuzma, RPF is the Woodlands Manager of Carrier Lumber Ltd. and Director of Carrier Forest Products Ltd.   Working with Carrier group of companies, Mr. Kuzma has been involved with numerous First Nations forestry related ventures including partnering on land management issues and negotiations.

 Previously, Mr. Kuzma was the Director and Past President of West Chilcotin Forest Products Ltd., and a Director with Cheslatta Forest Products Ltd., Interex Forest Products Ltd., and Carrier Janvier Forest Products Ltd.   Mr. Kuzma was a former board member and Vice Chair of the British Columbia Forestry Association, Northern Interior.  A graduate of the University of Alberta, Mr. Kuzma has his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry.

NRT Staff

 
Cliff Fregin
Chief Executive Officer

Cliff Fregin is a member of the Haida Nation, originally from Old Masset. He served on his home  band’s council for 6 years and was the first Executive Director of the Gwaii Trust. From 2003 through 2006, Cliff was the Chief Operating Officer for National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association (NACCA). He also acted as NACCA’s CEO for the latter half of 2006.









 
Lana Plante
Administrative Assistant

Lana Plante is a Nisga’a citizen from New Aiyansh and is of the Laxgibuu tribe.  Her heritage is also of Cree, French and Irish.  Before joining the NRT team she worked for 6 years at the UBC First Nations Legal Clinic as the Legal Assistant, where she was responsible for training UBC law students and helping Aboriginal people with working out their legal matters.