Our Team
Satsan (Herb George)
President, Centre for First Nations Governance
Satsan is a Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief of the Frog Clan and has been a long-time Speaker for the Wet’suwet’en Nation, which is located in BC. He previously served as Speaker for both the Gitxsan and the Wet’suwet’en Nations. Satsan was a key figure and strategist in the Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa case, which was the subject of a successful judgment before the Supreme Court of Canada in December 1997. Satsan was President of NCFNG (National Centre for First Nations Governance), CFNG’s predecessor organization, and is now a Senior Associate for the Centre for First Nations Governance. He served two terms as Regional Chief, representing B.C. at the Assembly Of First Nations, and one term on the Executive of the First Nations Summit. Satsan was also Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria, and taught for several years in the University’s Administration of Aboriginal Governments Program.
Amsey Maracle
Co-Executive Director
Centre for First Nations Governance
amaracle@fngovernance.org
Amsey is Mohawk and Plains Cree from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 Territory, Saskatchewan.
Amsey has been working under the mentorship of Satsan at the Centre for First Nations Governance for five years and now picks up the role of Co-Executive Director. Through her time as a Research Associate at the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation with the Rebuilding First Nations Governance research project, Satsan believes she is the right person to carry on the vision of the Centre.
Amsey is passionate about creating safe work environments for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples alike. Her areas of interest include revitalizing traditional concepts of governance, land-based education, and reconciliation through self-governance and nation-building.
Dr. Mason Ducharme
Co-Executive Director
Centre for First Nations Governance
mducharme@fngovernance.org
Mason Ducharme, proudly from the Lil’wat Nation within the St’at’imc Nation, serves as Co-Executive Director at the Centre for First Nations Governance (CFNG). He brings over a decade of experience in Indigenous governance, self-determination, and strategic leadership. Mason holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Capilano University, a Master of Public Administration, and recently completed his PhD in Public Administration at the University of Victoria. His doctoral research, supported by the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Graduate Scholarship, examines strategies for retaining Indigenous executives in Indigenous organizations. Before joining CFNG, Mason held roles as a Band Manager, Director of the Ts’zil Learning Centre, and Research Advisor for the First Nations Public Service Secretariat, gaining expertise in community engagement, policy development, and capacity building.
In addition to his role at CFNG, Mason serves as the National Community Research Director for the Rebuilding First Nations Governance (RFNG) project, a partnership with Carleton University and CFNG. He is responsible for overseeing CFNG’s finance, research, policy, and human resources operations departments, ensuring they align with the organization’s strategic goals. Mason co-develops and implements strategies to help First Nations move beyond the Indian Act by exercising their inherent rights.
Mason has led and facilitated workshops, secured significant funding for governance initiatives for community partners, and fostered partnerships with communities across British Columbia. As an educator, he has taught Indigenous values in business and human resources management at Vancouver Island University and Indigenous governance in Canada at the University of Victoria. He has also contributed to important publications, including Making Indigenous Self-Government Happen in Canada. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to empowering First Nations and supporting practical, Nation-driven governance solutions.
Erin Alexiuk
Director of Impact
Centre for First Nations Governance
ealexiuk@fngovernance.org
Erin is a seasoned researcher-practitioner with over 10 years of experience working with changemakers in the non-profit sector with a focus on strategic operations, impact sustainability, and strategic partnerships. Erin joined the CFNG team in 2016, bringing her expertise in systems change to drive impact across Canada. Erin, of Finnish and Ukrainian ancestry, is an active member of the research community as both a Research Associate with the Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience and a senior PhD candidate in the School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo.
Erin holds a Master’s in Environmental Studies and a BSc in Environmental Science. She is grateful to live with her family in the Robinson-Huron Treaty Area within the beautiful territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek Nation outside of Sudbury, Ontario.
Shenoa Poirier
Youth Program Coordinator
Centre for First Nations Governance & Inherent Rights Youth Initative
spoirier@fngovernance.org
Boozhoo! Wachey!
Shenoa is a Mushkego Anishinaabe Kwe with roots in Brunswick House First Nations and the Red River Settlement. She belongs to the Bear Clan and is passionate about reclaiming her identity as an act of resilience. She was raised upon unceded Algonquin Territory by two generations of Oji Cree Matriarchs, and is the granddaughter of a Sixties Scoop Survivor.
Shenoa has completed her Bachelors of Honours degree in Indigenous Studies at Trent University, and currently resides in Curve Lake First Nations. She identifies as a Shkaabewis Kwe (Helper in Anishinaabemowin) and seeks to create culturally safe and inclusive environments for all her relations. She has eagerly stepped into the role of Youth Program Coordinator and loves connecting Indigenous youth with Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Medicine People. It is her honour to support in the facilitation of intergenerational knowledge transmission and work with First Nations Peoples and Nations. Shenoa is looking forward to working with the IRYI Youth and community members in reciprocal and healing ways.
Tashena Asham
Centre for First Nations Governance
tasham@fngovernance.org
Hello everyone!
My name is Tashena Asham (Lerat-Musqua). I am Anishinaabe from Keeseekoose First Nation, with maternal ties to Cowessess First Nation—both located in Treaty 4 territory where I reside with my husband and our three children. I enjoy beading, drawing and making ribbon skirts in my free time. I work as an Indigenous community worker, connecting with youth in our school to create cultural programming. I have also been contracted as an Inherent Rights Youth Fellow with the Centre for First Nations Governance.
I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.A. in Sociology and a certificate in Indigenous Governance and Politics, sparking my interest in policy work and leading to my involvement with the IRYI in 2021. One of the greatest joys of being a part of the IRYI is connecting with our youth, leaders, and knowledge keepers that share the same passion for keeping our traditional ways of knowing alive and exercising our inherent rights. I look forward to being a part of the impactful work that CFNG does.
Jonathan Lapalme
Strategic Designer / Thought Partner
Centre for First Nations Governance
With a master’s degree in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons, The New School for Design, and a bachelor’s degree in Cultural and Media Production from Université du Québec à Montréal, Jonathan has been working for over 15 years on the design of processes and strategies related to various types of socio-ecological challenges.
In recent years, he has co-founded and activated several organizations and initiatives, including Dark Matter Labs Canada, Nouveaux Voisins, Office of Rules and Norms, LICER, Entremise, H-MTL/Memento, Les Matérialistes and the Faculty of Ignorance.
Brian Fitzpatrick
Director of Finance
Centre for First Nations Governance
Brian is a director on CFNG’s Board and brings his experience as former Chief Financial Officer for the Nisga’a Lisims Government and as past Director of Finance for NCFNG, our predecessor organization. In addition he has worked with a number of non-profit organizations with a focus on building capacity in the areas of financial reporting and forecasting.
Chris Robertson
Chris Robertson has over 18 years of experience specializing in community economic and organizational development, professional management, public communications, strategic planning, governance, lands and resources support with First Nation communities, governments and businesses. Chris, of Gitxsan ancestry, includes in his extensive experience being Executive Director for the Office of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, Senior advisor to the AFN, BC Regional Chief, COO of the National Centre for First Nations Governance and Band Administrator for the Musqueam First Nation. He is a former Board Director for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Chris was COO of NCFNG (National Centre for First Nations Governance), our predecessor organization.
Pawa Haiyupis
Pawatsqwachiitl Haiyupis is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.Over the past 10 years Pawa has developed a diversity of professional skills from her work experience with First Nations people in relation to stewardship and the environment. Much of Pawa’s work has focused on facilitating dialogues on all aspects of governance, leadership and nation rebuilding. A major focus of her work is developing and implementing emerging leadership events, workshops and think tanks for youth. Pawa is committed to the Centre’s philosophy of creating new memories for our children and this philosophy guides her work at the community level. Pawa’s areas of training include First Nations Studies and Environmental Science with a focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Traditional Governance and Coastal Ecology.