British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres

Carl joined the BC Association in June of 2001, as the Provincial Coordinator of the Raven Youth Tech Program and in May 2003 assumed the full time duties as the UMAYC Provincial Coordinator. In 2005, Carl moved to the position of Assistant Executive Director. He has a bachelors degree in Natural Resource Sciences and has worked in engineering and technology capacities in North America and Europe.  

Carl is a Saddle Lake (Cree) band member and is married with 3 children, Danielle, Mason and Hannah. He has a keen interest in computers and enjoys sailing, biking, hiking and most recently, podcastin

Lisa is of Mikisew Cree and French decent and grew up off-reserve in Gold River on Vancouver Island. She balances work and family and volunteers supporting and developing a First Nations and Metis Program for local schools. Lisa began working in October 1999 and now is the Program Administrator of the Aboriginal Friendship Centre Program (AFCP) and the First Citizens Fund initiatives. She is very active in the Aboriginal community and is the Mother of 3 beautiful girls.

Warren joined the BCAAFC in the summer of 2004 and quickly fit into the organization as a valued team member. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria, majoring in History. Warren began his work at the Association as the Executive Assistant and moved to the Health Policy Analyst position in 2006. He is an avid hockey player and enjoys activities with family and friends.

Tanya first joined the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres as a summer student and now works full time as the UMAYC Provincial Coordinator. She has previously worked with the National Association of Friendship Centres as the UMAYC Program Officer and she continues to study part time at the University of Victoria. Her best friend Maggie wagged her way into the hearts of the BCAAFC staff and has taken up residency as our mascot and guard dog.

Diane joined the BCAAFC in the fall of 2006.  She is a member of the Tsimshian Nation and was born and raised in Prince Rupert BC.  She attended Malaspina University College for two years before taking time off to raise her young family.  She lives in Victoria with her husband and two wonderful sons.

Dianne is from the Tsilhqot?in First Nation, with her community located in the central interior of the province.  She pursued her post-secondary training through a First Nations controlled institution (Secwepemc Cultural Education Society) in partnership with Simon Fraser University.

Upon graduation with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours, she worked from 1994 to 1997 in the provincial government with the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture on Aboriginal Economic Development and Aboriginal Arts Industry Development. 

She has been an independent management and cultural industry consultant since 1997, situated on-reserve, working with clients across the province (provincial government, federal government, Aboriginal service organizations, and Aboriginal Art Industry professionals and artists).  Currently, Dianne is working with the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres as a Support and Outreach worker with Aboriginal non-profits and Friendship Centres across the province ? advising groups on community grants available through BC Gaming.

Vanessa joined the BCAAFC team in May of 2007 as the Provincial Coordinator of Aboriginal Family Literacy.  She graduated from the University of Victoria in April of 2006 with a Teaching Certificate and a BA in English and a minor in history.  Before joining BCAAFC, she worked in the Victoria School District as a teacher.  Her family comes from the Ahousaht and she is a proud parent of her son, Cylus.  Vanessa enjoys photography, drumming, camping and being active outside with her family.

Caitlin is M?tis and Irish, born and raised in Vancouver.  Caitlin started off in MAY 2007 as a practicum student assisting with PAYC duties. She quickly moved to a paid position and is now the BCAAFC Guatemala Project Coordinator of the ?Youth Helping Youth? initiative funded through CIDA.  In addition she is heavily involved in the activities of the Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council (PAYC). 

Ken has been with the BCAAFC since May of 2007 and is currently coordinating the Gathering Our Voices: 2008 Provincial Aboriginal Youth Conference. Ken is from the Tseshaht First Nation in Port Alberni as a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. Ken recently graduated from Malaspina University-College with a Bachelor of Arts in First Nations Studies. Ken loves spending time with his family and friends, especially his daughter Noelani.

Naomi joined the Association in September 2007, and dove head first into the planning process of the regionalization of Aboriginal Child and Family Service Authorities. She completed her Bachelor?s of Social Work at UVic in the spring of 2007, where she focused her studies on social policy. Naomi is a visitor to Coast Salish territory; her family is from Aotearoa and Scotland. She is the proud Mother of a vibrant little girl named Grace.

Diana is a Coast Salish ? Cowichan Tribes member with equal roots in the Nuu Chalth Nuth Tribal Territory.  Diana has accumulated over 18 years experience in the field of Early Childhood Development and working with Aboriginal children and families.

Diana is the mother of two sons and truly understands and appreciates the importance of learning in the early years of life and the benefits of family and parenting support, including extended family members.  She appreciates the cultural teachings of her Elder?s and incorporates these into her daily work from a family centred program philosophy.  For more information on Aboriginal Infant Development Programs of B.C., go to www.aidp.bc.ca .

Esther is Nlaka?pamux, Thompson or Interior Salish from the Nooaitch Indian Band of Merritt, B.C. Esther joined BCAAFC in July, 2007, as the AIDP Provincial Assistant in the office of the Provincial Office of the Aboriginal Infant Development Programs. Esther earned her diploma for business administration at the University of Victoria. Esther’s family consists of five sisters and one brother. She was gifted with one beautiful daughter, Cedar Kyla Fawn and one grandson, Tavien Gabriel Henry. Esther strongly believes in keeping traditional and cultural ways of life alive. Her parents, Leslie and Dora Shackelly (predeceased) gave her the Indian name of “YeXutetkw “.

Debra Prince (Opaskwayak Cree Nation) has an extensive background in artistic production and management. She is a co-founder and past curator of Urban Shaman Inc., Manitoba's only Aboriginal artist -run centre. In 2000, Debra produced and curated a unique landmark media arts festival in Winnipeg, The Iskwew Festival: The Feminine in Indigenous Film and Video which celebrated the talent and excellence of Aboriginal women in film and video and featured 45 pieces including works by Alanis Obomsawin, Shirley Cheechoo, Dana Claxton and Thirza Cuthand.

Debra followed up her previous successes by coordinating three years of flagship programs for The Banff Centre's Banff New Media Institute - the acclaimed Women in the Directors' Chair Workshop and the Interactive Project Lab in partnership with the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto and l'institut de l'image et du son in Montreal.

Debra's foray into management included her roles as operations manager for Aboriginal Arts and Leadership programs at The Banff Centre and as general manager for Full Circle: First Nations Performance in Vancouver where she was associate producer of the Talking Stick Festival in 2005.

Debra currently operates Prince Consulting, a firm which designs and develops artistic programs and productions specializing in the management and administration of Aboriginal productions and events.

Recently, Debra also became the Gaming Grants Liaison Officer for the BC Association of Friendship Centres where she promotes and disseminates BC Gaming Grants information to all non-profit organizations with a primary focus on Aboriginal societies and organizations