D
avid Williams
David is descended from the South Pacific missionary and adventurer, John Williams (great, great grandfather) on his paternal grandfather’s side, and from Staat’imc (Lillooet) Chief Joseph on his paternal grandmother’s side (coyote clan). His roots go deep into what is now British Columbia, and also into the South Pacific Archipelago.
Working extensively to support and promote reconciliation for over 25 years, he is deeply committed to reconciliation in Canada, and is profoundly aware of the obligations imposed by settler privilege. With an honours degree in anthropology and an advanced degree in library science, David’s experience as a farmer, deep ocean seaman, fisher, hunter, engineer and advisor to conservation biologists brings a wealth of expertise to PPP.
David has been instrumental in conservation science and ethno-ecology. In 2010 he established RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs), and served as its president for five years. He has worked to advance the interests of the Tsilhqot’in community, assisting in the successful Roger Williams rights and title case, and in creating the ?Elegsi Qayus Wild Horse Preserve. His work was instrumental in preventing federal approval of the New Prosperity Mine.
Glenn Grande
Glenn is of European and Aboriginal (Cree) ancestry. Grandson of Louis A. Romanet (“Kabluk of the Eskimo”) and resident of Victoria, BC, Glenn has a Juris Doctorate from the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, with a focus on Aboriginal Law, inherent rights, and self-determination. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree through Thompson Rivers University and a Bachelor of Education degree from Vancouver Island University.
Glenn is Executive Director of Fair Mining Collaborative, www.fairmining.ca, an organization that provides technical and practical assistance around the issues and impacts of mining on First Nations people and local communities in British Columbia. He has designed training programs: First Rock: Mining Justice Basics, and Two Canoes.
When growing up in the heart of Alberta’s “coal branch” between Edmonton and Jasper, Glenn watched the land around him expropriated and literally devoured for the mining of coal, then “reclaimed”. Through this firsthand experience, he learned the lessons of mining’s destructive power, our enabling dependency, and its irrevocable blight on the land. Glenn also volunteered on the board of the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Center and served as a soldier in the Canadian armed forces. He is a certified teacher, having taught all grade levels.
Dr. Jeff Corntassel
As a member of the Tsalagi Cherokee Nation, Jeff was the first to represent the Cherokee Nation as a delegate to the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Peoples. He strives to honor his family and nation as a teacher, activist, and scholar. Jeff received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 1998. He is currently an Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor in the School of Indigenous Studies and an Acting Program Director for the CIRCLE (Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagement) at the University of Victoria, which is located on Lekwungen and Wsanec homelands.
Jeff has been a valued partner of PPP since 2014, and helped us to produce two conferences and many events including a 2015 Pacific Networking Conference, RedTide: International Indigenous Climate Action Summit and Youth Conference in 2018 and event components of PPP’s One Wave Gathering among other initiatives.
Jessica Rutherford
Jessica is a Physical Scientist at Geological Survey of Canada, Institute of Ocean Science. She has a Masters of Science (Marine Environmental Science Murdoch University, Perth, WA), a Bachelors of Environmental Science from Royal Roads University as well as an Advanced Diploma in Sports Therapies and Natural Medicine and Bachelors degree in Biological Science. She has lived and worked in Canada, Australia and the Solomon Islands.
Jessica spends much of her time at sea working in remote and resource poor areas. She supports government to develop community sustainable fishing practices, and assists nationally and internationally in hazard research and rapid assessment response. Two examples of the important work she is doing include:
1) Honours Team Project: Canadian Alternative Energy Information Package: Q&A publication for the United Nations Energy Production Committee written on behalf of Geological Survey of Canada, addressing environmental, social and economic impacts related to the research and development of gas hydrate production in the Canadian Arctic.
2) Comprehensive Project Report: Sustainability and emergency response strategies, resources management, mitigation and adaptation protocols for managing marine resources, floods, spills and environmental disasters for western Canadian coastal communities.
On November 15, 2018, PPP members and friends gathered at Blue Heron House on Victoria’s Royal Roads University campus for the organization’s AGM.
People and Passages:
Retiring Board members: PPP wishes to specially recognize Board members that retired this past AGM in November 2018. We are ever grateful for the support of Eugene Lee who served the past ten years as President and Past President; to Ruth Markowsky who gave passionately for her one-year term; and to Alison and Peter Gardner who have provided countless hours of support to PPP as Volunteers, Board members and Donors for nearly three decades!
Passing: PPP was deeply saddened by the death of PPP’s long-time champion Douglas Monds who supported our work in various ways for the last three decades. We also acknowledge the untimely death of T’Sou-ke Nation Elder Linda Bristol who provided invaluable support and guidance to our staff.