Keith Matthew is a member of the Simpcw First Nation and is a former chief of the Simpcw First Nation. He served for five years as chief and five years as Councillor up until December 2010.

As a Councilor and Chief with his community he was responsible for economic development and was instrumental developing a business relationship with Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing and helped negotiate ownership in a $7 million heli-skiing lodge. He was the chief negotiator with Kinder Morgan Canada and Canadian Hydro Developers and delivered impact benefit agreements to the community with those companies. The Kinder Morgan deal was worth in excess of $20 million for his community. He also led discussions on a forest and range agreement that provides fibre and resources for the Simpcw First Nation and its legal entities.

As chief he also was responsible for negotiations but also oversaw the successful delivery of the impact benefit agreements referendum and benefits to his community. In order to take advantage of the opportunities there was also the creation of Simpcw Resources Ltd. and the creation of Simpcw Heritage Trust to manage own source revenues into the future for the upcoming generations of Simpcw youth and their grandchildren.

The vision to create opportunities for Simpcw First Nation was understanding the Haida and Taku River Supreme Court of Canada decisions on the duty to consult First Nations communities. The building block for this was started with a consultation and accommodation framework that was passed by a majority of the Simpcw membership in a referendum on consultation and accommodation policy. Additional pieces to this policy framework were later developed around a map of the traditional territory and a heritage framework.

More recently a successful negotiation with Commerce Resources yielded an exploration agreement that will see the mining exploration company work with the Simpcw First Nation to bring economic benefits and contract opportunities to the community.

Currently Mr. Matthew is serving on the following committees as volunteer:
• Vice President of the Community Futures Development Corporation for Central Interior First Nations;
• Director for the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources

He is also involved in the startup of Ketop Development Inc. which is a company that will work with First Nations communities on developing and utilizing their first nations lands to their fullest economic potential. He is also currently on the board of advisors for Yellowhead Mining. He has his own company Seklep Business Services and recently signed an agreement with Lake Babine Nation to negotiate an impact benefit agreement with one of Canada’s leading pipeline companies. He is also lead negotiator with mining exploration companies and other mining companies that are involved in starting up their respective operations on LBN territory.

For further information please contact
Keith Matthew
250 318-3787

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Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers is a Strategic Advisor to First Nations and corporations on First Nations issues. Judith is also Entrepreneur in Residence at the Faculty of business at the University of Victoria as well as an adjunct professor of Law with the Faculty of Law Judith is the past Chief of the Hupacasath First Nation, located in Port Alberni, BC.

Judith was elected chief in her community for 14 years. As Chief of her First Nation, she focused on capacity building, sustainable development and restoring and rehabilitating Hupacasath territory.

Judith was also the Chief Negotiator for Hupacasath for 16 years. As Chief Negotiator, Judith pursued a just settlement of the rights and title of the Hupacasath within their territory.Judith also served on the Task Group of the First Nations Summit for a two year term.

The First Nations Summit represents the interests of First Nations working to negotiate treaties throughout the province of British Columbia. Judith's educational background includes a business and law degree and a honourary Doctor of Laws from Queen's University.
Judith has an extensive background of practicing law for 18 years in both Alberta and British Columbia, working in international forums, lobbying governments and other agencies for the promotion and protection of First Nations rights and title.

Judith serves as Co Chair on the Island Corridor Foundation a joint venture between Regional Districts and First Nations that own the Rail line on Vancouver Island. She also serves on the Public Advisory Panel of the Canadian Electricity Association Judith is also on the Board of the New Relationship Trust and the Industry Council for Aboriginal Business.

Meko Nicholas is Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) from the Nekwotkok (Tobique) First Nation in New Brunswick. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of New Brunswick.
During a 3 year period working in the Federal Government in Ottawa, Meko was privileged to participate in the finalization and signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement on First Nations Lands Management (FA) in 1996.  Shortly thereafter Meko joined the LAB to focus on implementation of this historic government to government agreement.

He has since worked with the LAB and Resource Centre (LABRC) for over 14 years.  During this period, his main task has been to provide direct support to signatory First Nations in developing and implementing their land codes.  

He currently serves in the position of Assistant Executive Director at the LABRC and works out of Fredericton, New Brunswick. 

Meko is also a member of the First Nations Technology Council’s First Nations Information Support Systems advisory group.