I would love to bring more of our first nations members back home. Many of the community members have moved away for school and work. I would love create more opportunities for them in the Comox Valley by creating economic development opportunities through join venture partnerships and new businesses that will produce more training dollars and jobs.

Tell us about your work in your community

Currently I work at K'omoks Economic Development Corporation (KEDC) where I assist the CEO. I actively participate in strategic planning sessions, conduct research, produce schedules and agendas for meetings, review monthly financials, record and transcribe minutes, arrange meetings, telephone conferences, book venues and catering, create spreadsheets and power points, write letters, assist with overflow work from CEO, presentations to the community.

Tell us a story about a time you brought people together to improve your community.

I was one of the main organizers for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, 2018, which brought people from all over the island. There was first nations dancing in the big house, cedar weaving workshops, pipe ceremony, bannok, a youth indigenous hip hop group and traditional games such as knife throwing. Everyone who came had a wonderful time. The special event brought many community members and others together to share traditions and celebrate.

What problems are you trying to solve?

I would love to bring more of our first nations members back home. Many of the community members have moved away for school and work. I would love create more opportunities for them in the Comox Valley by creating economic development opportunities through join venture partnerships and new businesses that will produce more training dollars and jobs.

What do you need to learn how to do in order to solve those problems?

I need to learn more about each business as well as create new opportunities by networking and researching.

What are the most powerful questions you need to ask right now?

My community is very interested in a legal marijuana business. They want us to start learning about this business right away. The most powerful question I need to ask right now is: if you could only pick one thing, what is the most important thing to my community, and how would we achieve this?

If we all worked together, what do you imagine that we could achieve in the next five to ten years?

If we all worked together in the next five to ten years we could all be very healthy, prosperous communities that are all friends, work together, share ideas and welcome each other.