Board Members are appointed to two-year terms by the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
The mandate of the Board is to govern the operations of the organization by setting direction and policy, providing leadership to the FPCC and advocating on behalf of members.
The First Peoples’ Cultural Council Board is comprised of up to 13 members, including:
- Up to 9 voting members appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the FPCC Board
- 2 voting members appointed by the Minister
- 1 non-voting member appointed by the Minister to provide the government’s perspective to the Board
- 1 non-voting member appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the FPCC Board for the purpose of providing additional cultural perspective
To view additional information about the Board of Directors and committee roles please scroll to the bottom of the page.
Are you or someone you know interested in contributing to First Nations arts, cultural heritage and language revitalization work in B.C.? Consider joining the FPCC Board. We are currently recruiting!
Carla George
(Kwitelut i Kwelaw'ikw)
Board Chair
Carla George
(Kwitelut i Kwelaw'ikw)
Board Chair
Carla George, Kwitelut i Kwelaw’ikw, Xa’nusa’mega, is a Skwxwu7mesh and Kwakiutl woman. She has lived and mostly worked with her Skwxwu7mesh community for many years working with children, youth, elders and then the political realm. She is grateful for all the teachings of her language and culture from many mentors along her journey. Kwitelut is a proud daughter, wife, mother, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend to many people in her life who’s she met along her work, education and life journey.
Connie Watts
Vice Chair
Connie Watts
Vice Chair
Connie Watts is the Associate Director, Aboriginal Programs at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, curator, educator and designer of Nuu-chah-nulth, Gitxsan and Kwakwaka’wakw ancestry. Born and raised in Campbell River, Connie has a Bachelor of Interior Design from the University of Manitoba, and a BFA from Emily Carr.
Her award-winning work is often rooted in forms and knowledge drawn from First Nations cultures, while her sculptural objects incorporate modern fabrication and design techniques. She has shown nationally and internationally, and her work is included in numerous corporate and civic collections. Some highlights include her graduation project, Vereinigung, exhibited for two years at the Museum of Anthropology (and now hangs permanently at the Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, Wash.); her subsequent thunderbird installation, Hetux, was purchased for permanent display at the Vancouver International Airport; and Strength from Within, a more recent installation Connie calls one of her “most meaningful,” was created to commemorate the children of the Alberni Indian Residential School for the Tseshaht Nation.
In more recent years, Connie completed the interior design for the Songhees Wellness Centre — a 48,000 square foot contemporary commercial building that fuses art, architecture, and design with the Songhees culture — and was the project manager for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Committee’s Aboriginal Art Program. As curator on that project, she was responsible for the procurement, commissioning, execution and installation of over 50 artworks in the 16 official Olympic venues — an accomplishment marked by the publication of “O Siyam,” a book celebrating the Aboriginal Olympic artworks.
Connie previously sat on the Emily Carr Board of Governors for six years. She has also been affiliated with the British Columbia Arts Council, the First Peoples Cultural Council, the Vancouver Foundation and the Contemporary Art Gallery, among other institutions.
Addie Pryce
Board Member
Addie Pryce
Board Member
Addie Pryce is from the Nisga’a Nation of Gingolx, on the north coast of British Columbia. Throughout her career, Addie has been committed to the health and well-being of all Indigenousl people and communities. Addie has held leadership roles within B.C. and Ontario, including working with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Indigenous Services Canada (formerly Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development), the First Nations Information Governance Centre and as the Director of the Health Sector for the Assembly of First Nations, where she advocated for First Nations’ health and well-being.
In her role as Vice President, Aboriginal Partnerships for the Interior Health Authority, Addie is committed to the health and well-being of all Aboriginal people and communities in the Interior region. She fosters relationships with First Nations and Métis partners and organizations, and provides executive leadership to IH’s work in cultural safety and humility.
Jamie Sterritt
(Wii’nagim’tsiwnget)
Board Member
Jamie Sterritt
(Wii’nagim’tsiwnget)
Board Member
William James (Jamie) Sterritt is a member of the Lax Gibuu (Wolf Clan) of the Gitxsan Nation. His traditional name is Wii’nagim’tsiwnget.
Previously, Mr. Sterritt was Information Technology Manager for Gitxsan Government Commission and served as the First Nations liaison for an environmental consulting firm based in Vancouver. In 2005, he launched Sa’hetxw Consulting, where he has planned and delivered a wide range of successful projects for his clients. Jamie brings a unique blend of expertise and experience as a seasoned Indigenous Governance consultant and facilitator working with Indigenous communities and organizations throughout B.C. and Manitoba.
Active in his community, Jamie served on the Board of Governors of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and is currently a director on the Justice Institute of BC and Creative BC boards.
Grant Alphonse
Board Member
Grant Alphonse
Board Member
Grant Alphonse is well-known in his community as a strong advocate for Tsilhqot’in language, traditions and culture. He has represented his nation on provincial and national education, and political platforms. Grant has worked as a court interpreter and Indigenous school liaison and support worker. This earlier work strengthened his skill as a language educator, and until 2017 he was the Principal at Tl’etinqox Elementary School. Grant’s late father did not attend residential school and he retained a great deal of his Tsilhqot’in community’s traditional knowledge, including Tsilhqot’in language, which he passed down to Grant. Grant is grateful to be passing on his father’s traditional knowledge to his community and nation.
Lynn Kenoras-Duck Chief
Board Member
Lynn Kenoras-Duck Chief
Board Member
Lynn has served as Chief of the Adams Lake Indian Band since 2021 and as a band councillor since 2006.
She is committed to her community and has served with the Assembly of First Nations (National and BC), Union of BC Indian Chiefs, BC First Nations Leadership Council, Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, B.C. Native Women’s Association, Native Women’s Association of Canada, and BC College of Social Workers Indigenous Committee.
Lynn works as a family counsellor, providing holistic counselling and advocating for Aboriginal students and families and previously served as wellness director for Nesconlith Indian Band.
Michael Bonshor, CPA (CMA)
(Gix’kandzi)
Board Member
Michael Bonshor, CPA (CMA)
(Gix’kandzi)
Board Member
Michael is a member of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation of Kingcome Inlet, BC. Michael has over 20 years of experience working with First Nations across Canada in key areas of governance, business and economic development, and First Nations investment.
Michael has extensive experience working within the public and private sectors, bridging Indigenous rights and title to opportunities and respectful relationship development with government and industry.
He is President and CEO of Visions First Nations Financial Services and Managing Director of the First Nations Business Development Association. Michael is the current Co-Chair of the BC First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing Partnership as well as Board Member/Secretary-Treasurer of the First Nations Health Authority. In 2022 Michael was appointed Governor for Board of Directors for BCIT and also sits on the National Indigenous Economic Development Board.
Jennifer Melles
Government Seat
Jennifer Melles
Government Seat
Jennifer Melles is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives Division within the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Jennifer has been with the Ministry for over the five years and has worked in progressive leadership roles within the Ministry, alongside the executive team, to advance strategic and corporate priorities.
Jennifer has a diverse range of experience, both in the private and public sectors, and expertise in strategic and business planning, policy development, stakeholder engagement, change management and business process improvement.
Board Operations
- FPCC convenes quarterly Board meetings, supplemented by conference calls as needed.
- Committees of the Board hold regular meetings by conference call.
- Standing committees meet independently and report details back to the Board, with minutes sent to the Board for review.
- At the AGM each October, the Board reports to the Advisory Committee and hosts workshops with Advisory Committee members in order to receive feedback and suggestions for improvements on specific policies and programs. This information guides the Board and FPCC in setting organizational goals and strategies.
Board Activities and Responsibilities
- Conducts strategic planning, including the annual service plan
- Undertakes budgetary planning and accepts these budgets by formal resolution
- Modifies and/or adopts plans to meet the routine demands of FPCC
- Assesses and evaluates performance of FPCC through the annual report
- Retains and manages the relationship with the Chief Executive Officer
- Records faithfully for the corporate record any minutes of their meetings
- Reports to the Advisory Committee at the AGM
Key Accountabilities
FPCC’s Board of Directors is accountable to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation through the organization’s annual service plan, annual report and through reporting on its transfer under the agreement.
The organization is also accountable to B.C. First Nations and its other funders, including the Department of Canadian Heritage, the BC Arts Council and Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.
Board Committees
Governance Committee:
Jennifer Melles – Committee Chair
Carla George
Jamie Sterritt
Finance & Audit Committee:
Addie Pryce – Treasurer/Committee Chair
Michael Bonshor
Lynn Kenoras-Duck Chief
HR & Compensation Committee:
Connie Watts, Committee Chair
Grant Alphonse
Carla George