Chief and Council
2020-2022 Term
Sharleen Gale, Chief Councillor
Cynthia Burke, Councillor
Lycrecia Adin, Councillor
Patricia Capot Blanc, Councillor
Harvey Behn, Councillor
Aaron Dendys, Councillor
Roberta Dendys, Councillor
Cynthia Burke, Councillor
Lycrecia Adin, Councillor
Patricia Capot Blanc, Councillor
Harvey Behn, Councillor
Aaron Dendys, Councillor
Roberta Dendys, Councillor
List of Previous Councils by Terms
The information contained in this document is for informational purposes only and provided by AANDC. This is the only information they have on file for FNFN.
| FNFN Band Council History |
Check out our Chief and Council biographies below!
Photo by Kendell Gairdner
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Council MeetingsPlease contact the Clerk to Council, for more information by calling 250.774.7257
To Contact Chief & CouncilAll correspondence to Council is to be sent to kristin.lowe@fnnation.ca - Clerk to Council
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Meeting NotesTo view Council, Community or Membership Meeting Notes Band Members can contact the administration office at 250.774.7257.
Band Members are welcome to sit and observe Council meetings but must schedule a date and time. For more information please call the Clerk to Council at 250.774.7257. |
Get To Know Your Council
Left to right: Councillor Lycrecia Adin, Councillor Aaron Dendys, Councillor Patricia Capot Blanc, Chief Councillor Sharleen Gale, Councillor Roberta Dendys, Councillor Cynthia Burke, Councillor Harvey Behn.
Chief Councillor Sharleen Gale
Sharleen Gale has been an elected Councillor of the Fort Nelson First Nation since 2009. She is an active member of the Fort Nelson First Nation and envisions a future where all members are working together to become a strong, proud, healthy, and self-reliant Nation. She is the grand-daughter of Fred Burke and Madeline Needlay. Her roots run deep in the lives of her people and she enjoys being on the land with her family exploring the territory and teaching her son the traditional ways on the lands and how to hunt, fish, and gather medicines and berries.
As a leader and Chief of the Nation, she understands the importance of a upholding the spirit and intent of the treaty by asserting her peoples’ rights to their land and taking responsibility for ensuring that our future generations are able to live their lives in their territory in a way that honours our ancestors.
Sharleen started her career at Westcoast Energy Inc. in 2000. Her various roles working in Administration, Finance, Maintenance, Planning and in Leadership have given her extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, the corporate world and the vision to ensure our people are managing our lands and our resources in our territory to the benefit of our members.
Sharleen is the chair of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) and believes that First Nations need to have the opportunity to have equity in major project infrastructure and access to meaningful financing for these projects happening in their territories. One that focuses on a balance approach of economic prosperity and environmental stewardship. Several First Nations have formed the First Nations Major Projects Coalition for the purposes of examining how ownership of major resource projects on their lands could be facilitated and how environmental practices can be improved to meet their needs.
The work of the FNMPC is directed through feedback received from the First Nations participating in the Coalition.
If you would like to contact Chief Gale, please email her at sharleen.gale@council.fnnation.ca
As a leader and Chief of the Nation, she understands the importance of a upholding the spirit and intent of the treaty by asserting her peoples’ rights to their land and taking responsibility for ensuring that our future generations are able to live their lives in their territory in a way that honours our ancestors.
Sharleen started her career at Westcoast Energy Inc. in 2000. Her various roles working in Administration, Finance, Maintenance, Planning and in Leadership have given her extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, the corporate world and the vision to ensure our people are managing our lands and our resources in our territory to the benefit of our members.
Sharleen is the chair of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) and believes that First Nations need to have the opportunity to have equity in major project infrastructure and access to meaningful financing for these projects happening in their territories. One that focuses on a balance approach of economic prosperity and environmental stewardship. Several First Nations have formed the First Nations Major Projects Coalition for the purposes of examining how ownership of major resource projects on their lands could be facilitated and how environmental practices can be improved to meet their needs.
The work of the FNMPC is directed through feedback received from the First Nations participating in the Coalition.
If you would like to contact Chief Gale, please email her at sharleen.gale@council.fnnation.ca
Councillor Lycrecia Adin
Hi, Lycrecia Adin here. I look forward to serving our community on Council. I currently live on reserve with my teenage son Mojave. The members that I’ve worked with or played sports with will know that I am a hard worker and a team player. Even when the going gets tough, I get the job done with a good attitude and a sense of humour. For the Members that don’t know me yet. I was born and raised on reserve. I went to residential school in Lower Post and town school in Fort Nelson, then college and university in Vancouver and Victoria. I’ve studied Film/TV Production, Business and Executive Life Coaching. I’ve worked in many fields. I was a Native Court Worker and a Probation Supervisor. I have worked on TV shows and movies. I was the coordinator/manager of the Recreation, Lands and Justice Departments for Fort Nelson First Nation over the years. I developed and ran my own successful company in the oil and gas sector holding major contracts with Encana, Enbridge and Ledcor. Plus many other jobs here and there. Since I moved back last July, I have managed the Annual Celebration, the Recycle Program and the Murdered and Missing Women Project for the Fort Nelson First Nation. I am also the 3C challenge community business mentor for the UVIC Gustavson School of Business. In my spare time I like to travel the world. I love our community and will work hard to move our community forward in a positive way.
Cynthia Burke
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My name is Cynthia Burke. I was born, raised and continue to live within our community of the Fort Nelson First Nation today. I am the child of Jim and Dorothy (Salopree) Burke and the grandchild of Fred and Madeline (Needlay) Burke. As a child, I was raised to respect our Elders, as they are the knowledge keepers, where I continue to listen and learn from near and far.
I am a proud mother with three children aged 20, 10, and 4. We enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, camping and attending traditional gatherings, such as the Dene Tha Assembly, Pilgrimages, and Annual Celebrations. I love cooking, doing crafts, sewing, and beading. I have been employed with the FNFN Department of Lands, Resources & Treaty Rights since 2005 as the Permits and Referrals Clerk and in the role of the Cultural Support Worker since 2019. I have also been pursuing a certificate in Applied Business Technology – Administrative Assistant since 2018, taking online courses. This is my second term on Council, having served in the 2016-2018 term. In the past two years, I have worked towards building and strengthening my self-esteem and becoming a strong, healthy, proud, and self-reliant Dene women. |
Councillor Patricia Capot Blanc
Hi my name is Patricia Capot Blanc. Most people call me Sister, as that's the name that I grew up with. Those who know me know that I am the third child to Adolphus Capot Blanc and the late Maggie Marie (Netsena) Capot Blanc.
I am currently employed with the Nation as the Elders Activities Coordinator and love the duties the role brings on. It warms my heart if I can make a difference in one Elder’s life and see just one smile.
This is my third term being elected to council and I’m very grateful for the support I have received from the membership. Being on Council is very challenging and can be difficult but I enjoy serving the people and being involved in our community.
I was born and raised in Fort Nelson and have always been actively involved in the community. I’m a grandmother to six grandchildren, who I love more than anything and this is the main reason for the path I choose to lead now. I can say that I am truly proud of myself for being free from alcohol and drugs for five years, and smoke free for three years. I’ve experienced a lot of pain and heartache over the years but I’ve learned to cope with it all and move forward the best way I know how.
I am currently employed with the Nation as the Elders Activities Coordinator and love the duties the role brings on. It warms my heart if I can make a difference in one Elder’s life and see just one smile.
This is my third term being elected to council and I’m very grateful for the support I have received from the membership. Being on Council is very challenging and can be difficult but I enjoy serving the people and being involved in our community.
I was born and raised in Fort Nelson and have always been actively involved in the community. I’m a grandmother to six grandchildren, who I love more than anything and this is the main reason for the path I choose to lead now. I can say that I am truly proud of myself for being free from alcohol and drugs for five years, and smoke free for three years. I’ve experienced a lot of pain and heartache over the years but I’ve learned to cope with it all and move forward the best way I know how.
Councillor Aaron Dendys
My name is Aaron Dendys and this is my first term on council. I was born and raised in Fort Nelson, BC. My parents are Richard and Roberta Dendys and I have three siblings, Rochelle, Miranda and Tyrell.
I’ve lived on reserve most of my life, minus a few years that I moved away to play hockey and go to school. I own my own home on reserve where my wife Angela and I are raising our two daughters, Aliyah and Alyssa.
I attended Chalo School in my elementary years, graduated from FNSS and completed trades courses at the Northern Lights College in FSJ. I currently work at Eh Cho Dene as a field/shop mechanic and have always worked in the oil and gas industry. I am quite active in sports and enjoy being on the land camping, fishing and hunting.
During my term on council, my main focuses are education and training for our members, creating meaningful work opportunities, and developing revenue generating businesses. I’m looking forward to working with Chief and Council over the next two years as we continue to be a strong, proud, healthy, and self-reliant community.
I’ve lived on reserve most of my life, minus a few years that I moved away to play hockey and go to school. I own my own home on reserve where my wife Angela and I are raising our two daughters, Aliyah and Alyssa.
I attended Chalo School in my elementary years, graduated from FNSS and completed trades courses at the Northern Lights College in FSJ. I currently work at Eh Cho Dene as a field/shop mechanic and have always worked in the oil and gas industry. I am quite active in sports and enjoy being on the land camping, fishing and hunting.
During my term on council, my main focuses are education and training for our members, creating meaningful work opportunities, and developing revenue generating businesses. I’m looking forward to working with Chief and Council over the next two years as we continue to be a strong, proud, healthy, and self-reliant community.
Councillor Roberta Dendys
My Name is Roberta Dendys (AKA Mousie) I was born and raised here in Fort Nelson and have resided on the Fort Nelson First Nation for the past 33 years. I have been married for 27 years (14 of which is legal), raised 4 children and one niece. I am a very proud grandma to 3 beautiful grand-daughters. My parents are Don and Georgina Ross and I have a baby sister, Shirley, who lives in Prophet River with her husband and two daughters. I also have a brother and niece who live in Grande Prairie I am the grand-daughter of Narcisse and Virginia Capot-Blanc.
My history with Fort Nelson First Nation started when I was around 15. I was a summer student, when the Band Office was located by Neh Zoo. I recall being cooped up in the basement working on an inventory list for Administration. At that time it was mostly counting beaver pelts and moose hide and not so much equipment. I have to confess there was a time or two when I would just lay on the fur and watch the clock tick away. I remember some of the office workers (all housed in one building) smoking at their desks and fighting with the keys on their in-need-of repairs type writers. At that time, I believe we only had two Band Vehicles that bounced around the pothole rez. I also recall helping my dad haul water to each house and fill the tin barrels in old reserve and tanks in the new reserve. Anyways how the times have changed. I had the pleasure to see and help our nation go through some of the changes. Today, we try to keep up with technology, we own beautiful facilities, offer many programs and services, have paved roads, exceptional school, adequate housing, daycare, fresh running water, economic opportunities. These are some of the changes that happened in my lifetime, imagine the stories of our elders, the lives they lived and resources they had; praise them for their sacrifices which made an easier life for us to live in today. Although we need to keep thriving we must not ever forget our roots and where we come from. I have been working for my nation for the past 22 years, in many capacities and previously elected in Council. We have gone through a lot challenges but also found a lot of rewards. Our Nation is amazing and I am proud to be a member! I look forward to working with the council and community over the next couple years and hope that together we can continue to build a healthy nation.
My history with Fort Nelson First Nation started when I was around 15. I was a summer student, when the Band Office was located by Neh Zoo. I recall being cooped up in the basement working on an inventory list for Administration. At that time it was mostly counting beaver pelts and moose hide and not so much equipment. I have to confess there was a time or two when I would just lay on the fur and watch the clock tick away. I remember some of the office workers (all housed in one building) smoking at their desks and fighting with the keys on their in-need-of repairs type writers. At that time, I believe we only had two Band Vehicles that bounced around the pothole rez. I also recall helping my dad haul water to each house and fill the tin barrels in old reserve and tanks in the new reserve. Anyways how the times have changed. I had the pleasure to see and help our nation go through some of the changes. Today, we try to keep up with technology, we own beautiful facilities, offer many programs and services, have paved roads, exceptional school, adequate housing, daycare, fresh running water, economic opportunities. These are some of the changes that happened in my lifetime, imagine the stories of our elders, the lives they lived and resources they had; praise them for their sacrifices which made an easier life for us to live in today. Although we need to keep thriving we must not ever forget our roots and where we come from. I have been working for my nation for the past 22 years, in many capacities and previously elected in Council. We have gone through a lot challenges but also found a lot of rewards. Our Nation is amazing and I am proud to be a member! I look forward to working with the council and community over the next couple years and hope that together we can continue to build a healthy nation.
