Board of Directors

The Gwaii Trust Society has a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of eight members, each representing a participating community on Haida Gwaii.

Each director/alternate is nominated by their respective community as set out in the bylaws, and they serve a two year term. The Chair is always appointed by the Council of the Haida Nation and serves a three year term.

Board Members at the 2024 AGM (left to right): Terry Carty, Emmy O’Gorman, Maureen Bailey, Michelle Pineault, Bret Johnson, Karen Dean, Lisa Hageman, Stephen Grosse, Lori Wiedeman, Erica Jean Reid, Flavien Mabit, and Billy Yovanovich.

Each Board member serves a two-year term with staggered term dates:

Area E (Copper Bay, K’il Kun Sandspit)
Council of the Haida Nation – G̲aw Tlagée Old Massett
Council of the Haida Nation – HlG̲aagilda Skidegate
Graham Island North (Village of Masset and Tow Hill Road residents)
Graham Island Central (Nadu Road residents, ‘Wáan Kun Village of Port Clements, and Tll.aal Tlell)
Graham Island South (Lawn Hill, Miller Creek residents and Village of Daajing Giids)
Old Massett (G̲aw X̲aadée Council Née Old Massett Village Council)
Skidegate (SG̲iidagiids Gan ga Kaagangxaaw Skidegate Band Council)

Lisa Hageman

Lisa Hageman

Chair,
Gwaii Trust Society

Term Expiry: 2027

Flavien Mabit

Flavien Mabit

Director,
Area E

Alternate: Emmy O’Gorman
Term Expiry: 2027

Valine Brown

Director, Council of the Haida Nation Old Massett

Alternate: Tarah Samuels
Term Expiry: 2027

Goox

Director, Council of the Haida Nation
Skidegate

Alternate: Gidin Jaad Erica Jean Reid
Term Expiry: 2027

Bret Johnston

Bret Johnston

Director,
Graham Island North

Alternate: Terry Carty
Term Expiry: 2026

Maureen Bailey

Maureen Bailey

Director,
Graham Island Central

Alternate: Berry Wijdeven
Term Expiry: 2027

Lori Wiedeman

Lori Wiedeman

Director,
Graham Island South

Alternate: Karen Dean
Term Expiry: 2026

Donald Edgars

Donald Edgars

Director,
Old Massett Village Council

Alternate: Lisa Bell
Term Expiry: 2026

Billy Yovanovich

Billy Yovanovich

Director,
Skidegate Band Council

Alternate: Michelle ‘Ooka’ Pineault
Term Expiry: 2027

Standing Committees

Athlii Gwaii Legacy Project Review Committee

The Gwaii Trust Society Athlii Gwaii Legacy Project Review Committee provides oversight of the Athlii Gwaii Legacy grants on behalf of the Board of Directors and is responsible for recommendations to the Board on all matters pertaining to application recommendations.

Billy Yovanovich
Bret Johnston
Maureen Bailey
Lori Wiedeman

Valine Brown
Goox
Donald Edgars

Audit & Finance Committee

The Gwaii Trust Society Audit and Finance Committee provides oversight of the financial reporting process and the audit process on behalf of the Board of Directors and is responsible for recommendations to the Board on all matters pertaining to financial policy and procedures and auditor recommendations.

Chair: Maureen Bailey
Goox
Berry Wijdeven

Bret Johnston
Flavien Mabit
Lori Wiedeman

Executive Committee

The Gwaii Trust Society Executive Committee is the Chair and two directors – one Haida and one Non-Haida – that are chosen by the directors and the Chair. The Executive acts as the Board’s main liaison with the public and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) between Board meetings. They provide strategic leadership and evaluation of the Board of Directors.

Chair: Lisa Hageman

Valine Brown

Maureen Bailey

Haida Gwaii Community Foundation Committee

The Haida Gwaii Community Foundation Committee provides oversight of the Foundation’s finances, donations, and administration.

Chair: Lori Wiedeman
Donald Edgars
Bret Johnston

Flavien Mabit
Michelle “Ooka” Pineault
Berry Wijdeven

Youth Board

The Gwaii Trust Society Youth Board of Directors was established as a counterpart to the main Gwaii Trust Society Board. It provides input on application approvals, reviews grant policies through a youth lens, and creates mentorship opportunities for young people.

Jordyn Zarry & Riley Dorman

Area E (Copper Bay, K’il Kun Sandspit)

Kwiadda McEvoy & Jalissa Dix

CHN Gaw Tlagée Old Massett

Kil Daagwiiya Hooper & Tymeko Collinson

CHN HlGaagilda Skidegate

Jayden Brown & Nora-Jane Edenshaw

Graham Island North

Sephina Stupke & Max Gomex-Bull

Graham Island Central

Zoey Collinson & Isadore Muise-Bissett

Graham Island South

Tyler Collison & Franklen (Ares) Edgars

Gaw Tlagée Old Massett

Marika Gladstone & Taanggunaay Grinder

HlGaagilda Skidegate

Wellness Committee

The Gwaii Trust Society Wellness Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board which explore the role that the Trust can play in enhancing the social, physical and mental well being of residents of Haida Gwaii.

Billy Yovanovich
Lisa Bell
Maureen Bailey

Karen Dean
Gidin Jaad Erica Jean Reid

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