We use cookies on this site to enhance your online experience. By continuing to use this site, you agree to accept cookies.
Wayne is a proud Ojibway from Wikwemikong in Ontario. A single father of two sons and one daughter, Wayne has dedicated his life and activities to the social and cultural development of youth. He is also a strong advocate of First Nation language as a tool for cultural memory and learning.
His current passions, which are shared with his children, include the Y We Dream Foundation and the Indian Joe and DahBroz brands. Dahbroz was recognized as Emerging Entrepreneurs at the World Indigenous Business Forum in Hawaii. Wayne has over 30 years experience as a successful entrepreneur and in senior management. He has spoken at many conferences and events on business development, entrepreneurship and community development.
Wayne has been involved in a variety of activities in the private sector. He was co-owner of a manufacturing plant which produced a line of sportswear and skiwear under the David S Reid brand, co-owner of the Manitoulin Trading Post; a full-service PetroCanada gas bar and convenience store, Two Rivers Technologies; a software development company, Two Rivers Computers, Indian Joe Design; a multi-media and animation company, and The Muskoka Group business incubation and franchise development group.
Wayne also successfully assisted four First Nation communities in the development of computer assembly businesses. He is also a former Band Economic Development Officer; National Facilitator Aboriginal Employment Services Network, where he was responsible for the first national online electronic job and resume bank.
Wayne has also served his community through volunteer work. This includes three terms as president of the Longlac Chamber of Commerce, coaching and mentoring with hockey and lacrosse associations in Ontario and British Columbia, instructor for a number of hockey programs for youth, and committee member to the Software Human Resource Council.
CNA Manager
Whitney has an entrepreneurial spirit coupled with a strong business acumen, while being passionate about analyzing information and knowledge as it relates to opportunity.
The business platform is changing as it relates to Aboriginal inclusion and therefore as the Business Development Officer of the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly (CNA) Whitney ensures maximum benefit is achieved within this shifting platform. A proven performer who moves easily from vision and strategy to implementation and follow-through; practical, creative, and results focused. Whitney appreciates and understands the diversity of people and values the importance of a human centered environment as it directly compliments opportunity and personal growth.
Business Development Officer
Nicole is from Merritt. Her husband and five children are part of Lytton First Nation. Nicole provides great support to the Employment and Training Program, the CNA, the development and management of the annual planning process, as well as being a great asset in community development processes and referrals for employment.
Nicole's dedication to community development and engagement helps create positive change and impact within the eight CNA communities and related organizations. She especially enjoys engaging in high level team collaboration, demonstrating task reliability, communicating constructively and motivating and supporting team direction.
Her goal is to provide an innovative approach in engaging and expanding overall program development and direction. Part of Nicole's vision is developing advanced networking proficiency and creating effective working relationships and partnerships with service providers and organizations throughout British Columbia. NicoIe cherishes the nłeʔképmx territory, and strives to create a strong and successful environment for her children and their children’s children.
Employment & Training Coordinator
Tamlyn is passionate about the confluence of western science and indigenous knowledge and how they can be utilized to build understanding between industry and Indigenous Nations throughout the mining lifecycle. This passion is rooted both in her Nłeʔképmx heritage and technical background as she holds a B.Sc. in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria (2015).
Tamlyn has worked with both industry and Indigenous Nations to develop tools and processes to bridge the two ways of knowing to support developing meaningful relationships though environmental management, regulatory engagement, environmental assessment, and impact benefit agreement implementation.
In her role as Territorial Stewardship Manager she will focus on continual improvement of the department’s operations as well as developing strategic, technical tools and processes to support the eight Participating Bands in ensuring Nłeʔképmx jurisdiction, knowledge and rights are integrated throughout the life of mine and into closure.
Tamlyn Botel
Territorial Stewardship Manager
Aliyah is a proud Shackan Band member and grew up on reserve before moving to Kelowna to attend the University of British Columbia. She graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Following graduation, Aliyah moved to Australia where she worked and traveled for 14 months.
Being a member of the Shackan Band and Nłeʔképmx Nation presents Aliyah with invaluable opportunities to return her skills to the communities, allowing her to blend science-based education with traditional nłeʔkepmx knowledge.
Aliyah welcomes and values any knowledge, stories or input that members of the eight communities wish to share.
Territorial Stewardship Technical Lead
Robin is a member of the Nłeʔképmx Nation from the Lower Nicola Indian Band, she is a mother of two boys Carlos and Alexander. Her parents are Hyrum and Gail Peterson, and her great grandparents are John and Josephine Shuter.
Growing up in the community on a working ranch fostered a love of the land and culture. Throughout her youth she assisted her family on the farm tending to cattle through feeding, branding, herding, and auctioning as well as field irrigation. She also assisted her Grandmother with tanning hides.
This strong work ethic taught by her family has served to create someone who believes in doing a job well done from the onset. Over the past 16 years Robin has held many positions that have continued to expand her knowledge and skills. A big focus within the last five years specifically have been centered around communication. Robin helped streamline communication within the LNIB in order to achieve a higher level of awareness and connection to all the services the Band has to offer. Working for Teck HVC as an intern has helped form a more comprehensive understanding of impact within our territory.
Robin's goals serving in the capacity of the Communications Coordinator is to streamline the circulation of prevalent and crucial information to keep our interested communities up to date. Robin appreciates community input in streamlining this process and welcomes any and all feedback.
Communications & Strategic Engagement
William believes in sharing spaces to learn and thrive as a team to ensure program delivery is successful in the communities. He is a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band and is from the Nłeʔképmx and Secwépemc nations. His parents are Carole Basil (Nłeʔképmx) and the late George Sandy (Secwépemc).
William recently completed his Bachelor of Social Work at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT). During his time as a student at NVIT he was actively involved in the campus community as a student representative on the Board of Governors, Strategic Enrollment Management Committee, Social Work Faculty Committee, and Ambassador program as well as international engagement as a volunteer/intern in Tanzania, India, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil and the United Nations Head Quarters.
He has worked with several organizations in the nłeʔképmx territory to plan, coordinate and promote community development and engagement. William is dedicated to promoting health and well-being in his professional and personal life.
nłeʔkepmxcin Program Manager
Lena is from the Cooks Ferry Band, her grandparents were Frank Walkem and Gertie Toodlican, her parents are Carol Walkem and Monty Nicholson. She attended fine art schools in northern Ontario and Santa Fe, New Mexico studying photography and print-making.
In 2005 Lena attended the FNESC Maori Language Tour and the World Indigenous People’s Conference on Education in New Zealand. Lena has a strong interest in nłeʔképmx culture and language preservation.
She has worked with Cooks Ferry Band as a Cultural Assistant, and assisted with the Unity Gathering in 2011. She has also worked with Tmixʷ Research and Esh-kn-am on research projects and archaeology field work. Lena was a tour guide and landscape assistant at Tuckkwiowhum Village for Boston Bar Band. She is an aspiring language learner and her task is adding graphics and photos to the CNA Language Program, as well as assisting with recording language speakers and building lesson plans.
nłeʔkepmxcín Program Developer
Hen̓łeʔ - Weyt-kp
Madelynn Albert is Secwépemc/ Nłeʔképmx woman and a member of the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band. She has the honor of being the single parent to a daughter with a strong heart, fierce mind, and a brave spirit. Aiyanna Albert is 8yrs old, just finished grade 2 and is also a proud member of Cook’s Ferry Indian Band.
Her parents are Joe Thomas and Annette Albert. Her paternal grandparents are the late Shirley Ann (Thomas) Joseph and the late Charles Christopher Aloysius Joseph Sr. from Shuswap band. Her maternal grandparents are Cookie Jules (Delorse George) and Ross Albert. She is blessed to have additional maternal grandparents who have impacted her life in many unforgettable ways: Marie Anderson who inspires her to keep learning and speak her languages. And the late Mary Ann John who she carries in her heart, who has taught many life lessons that survived through generations, which has helped her daily and kept her grounded.
She spent her early years living and traveling around the Shuswap territory. Participating in family gatherings, learning to harvest from the land, traveling to powwows and Stick games. In 2004 she was able to move into the Nłeʔképmx territory and graduate from Ashcroft secondary. Spence’s Bridge is home and is where she has been learning and growing with the other half of her heritage.
Her goal is to be the best example for her daughter, in showing her how to walk in two worlds. With Aiyanna as motivation, they learn both languages, practice traditional teachings on the land, and try their best to keep learning every day; so that they may ensure their culture stays alive. She has been a stay-at-home-mom, a single mother with three jobs, a mother as well as a student. Now she has the privilege to say that she has graduated from NVIT with a certificate in Office Administration. She looks forward to being able to provide her support for the Nłeʔképmx territory and our eight participating CNA bands. When you call Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly, Madelynn will be the voice greeting you, helping you meet your current and future needs the best she can. Madelynn welcomes visitors to come say hello and inquire about any of our programs, she looks forward to meeting you.
kʷukʷscémxʷ
hum̓eł
kukwstsetsemc
putucw
Receptionist
We welcome a new member to our team!
Jaymie Brundage has joined the CNA as our new Employment & Training Administrative Assistant. Jaymie has worked in the customer service industry and took pride in assisting clients for the past 20 years. She is looking forward to a rewarding position and the ability to help clients obtain employment.
Jaymie’s great grandmother, Mary Grinder, was originally from Alkali Lake, which is where her band, Esk'etemc of the Secwepemc nation, is located. Her great grandmother moved to the Big Bar area near Clinton and went on to raise 8 children.
Jaymie grew up in Clinton where her family was involved in the logging industry. Her current partner is a log truck driver and she has one step-daughter. She moved from 100 Mile to Merritt 12 years ago and quickly fell in love with the city and surrounding communities. Jaymie’s hobbies include dirt biking which gives her the chance to see some amazing scenery such as Utah and Arizona as well as our own backyard!
Jaymie is here to help with your employment and training needs and welcomes you to reach out for resume assistance, register for training, or general job search assistance.
Employment & Training Administrative Assistant