First Nations Health Council (FNHC)

Wade Grant was first elected to the FNHC as a Vancouver Coastal Representative in June of 2019, and then appointed as Chair in September 2021. He is the Intergovernmental Officer for the Musqueam First Nation and as a board member for Covenant House Vancouver. Previously, Wade spent three years with the BC provincial government as the special advisor to the Premier on Indigenous issues and held a number of roles including member of the Vancouver Police Board, band council member with the Musqueam Indian Band, assistant general manager of the Four Host Nations Aboriginal Pavilion during the 2010 Olympics, policy analyst for the BC Assembly of First Nations and as executive assistant to the Solicitor General of British Columbia. Wade was recognized by Vancouver Magazine’s “Power 50” list in 2015 and 2013, and in 2012 he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for services to community. He lives on the Musqueam Indian Reserve and has two children.

Cliff Atleo (Wickaninnish) has been part of the FNHC since 2009, and now serves as its Elder Advisor. Born and raised in Ahousaht, he went to day school until grade four and Alberni Indian Residential School at age 10 for nine years. In 1978, he began working for the Native Brotherhood of BC and served as its executive director for six years where he negotiated salmon and herring contracts with the Fisheries Association of BC. Cliff was appointed to the Pacific Salmon Commission, Salmon Enhancement Board, Pacific Area Regional Council and the International Halibut Commission. He was Board member and president of the Nesika Lodge Society which provides support to young Indigenous women in Vancouver. He also served as President of an Aboriginal Business Association and Native Peoples Credit Union. He has represented Ahousaht as negotiator for the forestry conflict in Clayoquot Sound and continues his work as advisor for Ahousaht’s reconciliation talks with BC and Canada and as lead negotiator in the fight to re-establish a way of life of harvesting and commercially selling aquatic resources.

Kukpi7 (Chief) Wayne Christian (Wenecwtsin) is of Secwepemc ancestry and has worked for over 40 years in politics including advocacy health and healing for the Indigenous Nations of BC. His political work includes serving as Tribal Chief of the Secwepemc Nation representing nine of its 17 communities on the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council as well as on Council and Chief of Splatsin for a total of 26 years. A tireless advocate for recognition of Aboriginal Title and Rights at the political and grassroots levels, Wayne’s leadership philosophy is based on inclusiveness, historical perspective and a strong belief in sovereign land title and rights that are governed by First Nation laws, values, culture and traditions. He works alongside communities to advance jurisdiction on child and family services through a Nation-based, Community-driven approach. He is a proud father of seven children and twenty-five grandchildren.

Ko’waintco Michel is a member of the Nooaitch community, part of the Nla’kapamux Nation (NLX). She currently represents the Nla’kapamux Nation at the Interior Region Nation Executive Table where she brings issues from Chiefs on health gaps and concerns to the Partnership Accord Leadership Table. Ko’waintco is strong believer in practicing her culture and traditions and teaches NLX culture within School District #58. For 30 years, Ko’waintco has served in several elected political elected roles including Nooaitch community Chief (12 years), Assembly First Nations Regional Chief (2 years), NTA Chair (3 years), NTA Fisheries Political Rep (4.5 years). For more than 10 years, she has been the Nla’kapamux Nation Health Governance Representative as elected by the NLX Chiefs, taking their direction on health concerns and priorities.

Allan Louis is a proud member of the Okanagan Indian Band. During his eight terms as a Band Councilor, he has focused on ideas and initiatives that benefit the membership. He currently sits on the Interior Health Authority Board of Directors and works with local, provincial and federal governments to develop innovative ways of delivering health services. He also served two terms as the Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Education Committee for School District 22. Allan and his wife have a blended family of four children and five grandchildren; he lives on the Okanagan Indian Band Reserve near Armstrong BC.

Wilf Adam is serving his second term as the North Central representative on the FNHC. He is a strong advocate and leader to his home community of Lake Babine Nation where he has served in a variety of capacities, including as the Chief for 17 years. He has also been elected six times as Commissioner of the B.C. Treaty Commission. Along with serving in a political capacity, Wilf has a background in business and is the co-founder of the Burns Lake Law Centre and has served as both the president and chair of the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation. In addition to being a Northern FNHC representative, he also currently serves as a board member on the Board of Directors for Northern Health, working to improve health outcomes for First Nations communities.

Bev Lambert is a Cree from Saulteau First Nations in Moberly Lake, BC. She is the elected FNHC representative for Northeastern BC as selected by the Chiefs of the Treaty 8 Tribal area. Bev has more than 33 years of experience working in community-based programming for First Nations communities in such roles as Band Social Worker, Housing Manager, NNADAP Worker, Education & Cultural Coordinator and Health Director. Bev comes from a strong traditional background and draws much of her wisdom and strength from the matriarchs who came before her.

Tracey Woods, traditionally known as Gwilxs Waax ('paddle back to your roots') is from Wilps Gyetem Galdoo/Skii km Lax Ha of the Lax See'l clan. Born and raised in the North, she continues to call Gitanmaax home. Chief Woods has served on the Gitanmaax Band Council for six terms and is in her second term as elected Chief Councillor. As a strong community leader, she has held positions on the Gitksan Government Commission Board of Directors and the Gitanmaax Development Corporation Board of Directors. Chief Woods’ strength in community leadership is supported by 25 years of experience in administration and education. As an engaged leader, Chief Woods is driven by a desire to meaningfully address community needs.

Gabe Williams is the Southern Stl'atl'imx representative on the FNHC. He comes from Skatin, part of the Stl'atl'imx Nation and carries two traditional names from his father, Tselxasqet and P'ta7a. He has served on the Skatin Council since February 1994 and on the Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council since its inception. Gabe was on the Southern Stl'atl'imx Health Society Board for 12 years – including several terms as Board Chair as well as Interim Health Director. He was certified as a First Nations Health Manager in 2016 through the First Nations Health Managers Association based in Ontario.

For five years, Derek Epp has served as Chief of Tzeachten First Nation which is a part of the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and the Stó:lō Nation. His Xwelmexw (traditional) name is Weli’leq, his parents are Bruce and Sheree Epp, his grandparents are Georgina Pall and the late Lorne Robinson, and his great grandparents are the late Duncan and Dorothy Wealick. Derek is a proud descendent of the Wealick family and honoured to walk with the Xwelmexw name Weli’leq while serving Tzeachten First Nation. Recently elected to the FNHC as one of the three Fraser Salish Representatives, Derek brings his leadership and social work experience to his role representing the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs Council.

Maria Martin is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation and joined the First Nations Health Council in January 2014. Maria was appointed as the Central Coast Rep for the First Nation communities of Kitasoo, Oweekeno, Nuxalk and Heiltsuk located on the central coast of BC. Prior to her appointment, Maria was an active part of the Central Coast Community Hub. She has committed to working with integrity, reciprocal accountability and a focus on building strong partnerships with community and governments with objectivity and openness.

Tania Dick hails from the Dzawada’enuxw First Nations of Kingcome Inlet. Her career has been spent in rural and remote nursing, specializing in emergency and Aboriginal health. She has been a registered nurse for 12 years and received her Master of Nursing degree in the nurse practitioner program at UBC in 2010. Tania served as board member for the Association of Registered Nurses for BC representing the voice of Aboriginal and front-line nurses and has played a key role advancing the association’s work around Aboriginal health nursing. Throughout the pandemic, Tania has volunteered at a vaccination clinic and is currently serving in her second term as the FNHC representative to the Kwakwakaʼwakw family.

Telaxten was born and raised in Tsarlip First Nation, Brentwood Bay. He was raised to be a farmer, fisherman and hunter. He speaks the SENĆOŦEN language fluently and some HULQUWMELUM. Telaxten graduated from the School of Social Work at the University of Victoria and has a certificate in Linguistics Language Revitalization. For most of his adult life he has been an elected Councilor for his community and has served as a representative on numerous committees. Telaxten has been employed with the Canadian Red Cross since 2006 and now is an Elder Advisor for National Canadian Red Cross Society board. He is in his third term as the FNHC representative to 22 Coast Salish communities. He is a father of nine, a grandfather of 43 and a great-grandfather of ten.

Representatives

Representatives

Get Informed