Board of Directors
Meet Our Board
The National Indigenous Connectivity Initiative Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, advocacy, and governance to drive forward Indigenous-led connectivity solutions.
The board is composed of experienced Indigenous leaders and advocates who bring deep knowledge of Indigenous governance, broadband infrastructure, and community-driven innovation.
Andrew Victor Sex̱ómestel
Cheam First Nation, British Columbia
Sex̱ómestel has served as a member of the Cheam First Nation Council since 2015 and as Chief since 2019. He also represents the Fraser Salish region at the First Nations Health Council. He is actively involved with Indigenous fisheries, justice, supporting children and families, and building relationships with other communities. He and his wife are grateful for their four children and large extended family. His heart and vision is to see people come together to rise above the obstacles like the mountain goat and move forward in a good way.
Cheam First Nation – Xwchíyò:m
andrew@nic-inc.ca | www.cheam.ca | British Columbia
The Xwchíyò:m have lived in S’ólh Téméxw for thousands of years. We have never ceded or surrendered title to our lands, rights to our resources, or authority to make decisions within our territory.
Leoni Rivers
Gitxsan Governance, Principal, CEO Leoni Rivers Consulting, British Columbia - Alberta
Leoni Rivers Consulting, (LRC) has extensive experience working with senior level executive and senior management teams to create and implement Indigenous and community relations strategies around resource and project development. Leoni’s knowledge and evolving consultation requirements and current environmental context allows her to assist you define strategic objectives which result in you and your project team excel in project development success. LRC has the skill sets and expertise to design, implement, and document successful consultation strategies that not only meet government regulatory requirements, but assist your company in creating the foundation for legacy, mutually beneficial relationships with the First Nations leadership and communities in which you operate. LRC expertise includes working on site specific resource development projects, for example but not limited to the following; First Nations Wind Energy Projects Partnerships (FNWEPP), Meikle Wind Energy Project, and Red Willow Energy Project as well as linear projects, BC Rail Ltd., Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipelines, ILM, Northwest Transmission Line, and LRC has led consultation and engagement with over 67 communities in BC, AB and YK.
Partnerships: Working with various Indigenous Peoples and First Nations communities, it is about the new partners sharing strengths, working together to find innovative solutions to project issues and challenges, and the creation of viable partnerships that provide opportunities for all parties to achieve their vision and ultimate outcomes. The strategic outcomes include the development of innovative partnership structures, (LLP, LP, and or JV,) on various projects.
leoni@nic-inc.ca | Alberta, British Columbia
Ryan Robb
CEO, Chiniki Nation, Alberta
Ryan is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Chiniki First Nation. In his role, he oversees the administrative functions of the Nation, as well as their economic initiatives as carried out by the Chiniki Group of Companies.
Prior to joining the Chiniki First Nation, he held roles as an Executive Vice President at Northback Holdings, CEO for the Stoney Tribal Administration, Senior Advisor at Suncor, and as the CEO for Treaty 7 Management Corporation.
Ryan attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and completed a Bachelor of Economics degree. Ryan’s background and interests reflect his passion and ability for negotiating complex multi-stakeholder agreements within the context of contemporary business practices and his deep personal respect for traditional Indigenous teachings and protocols.
Ryan serves on several boards and advisory committees helping organisations to recognize and include Indigenous interests and contributions. Some of these (both current and formerly) include: Travel Alberta, Energy Futures Lab, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta & NWT, Alberta Strategic Tourism Council, Institute on Governance, and the Banff Centre – Indigenous Program Council.
In 2009, he was honoured with the Blackfoot name “Niinistakaa” by Chief Reg Crowshoe, Piikani Nation. Ninistakaa means “the one the Chiefs depend on/Chiefs’ Warrior”. In 2011, he was further honoured with a Headdress for his service to the Treaty 7 Nations.
ryan@nic-inc.ca | linkedin.com/in/ryan-robb-2699701 | Alberta
Chief Cornell McLean
Chief, Lake Manitoba First Nation
Grand Chief Joel Abram
Chiefs of Ontario, COO
Christopher Fry
Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Whitehorse, Yukon
Chris is a member of Kwanlin Dün First Nation located in Whitehorse, Yukon.
He has an undergraduate degree in International Indigenous Studies and a Masters of Science in Sustainable Energy Development from the University of Calgary.
Chris has 15 years of experience working in Indigenous Relations in the energy industry and has worked for companies such as Imperial Oil, Cenovus, Shell, and TC Energy. He has worked with Indigenous communities throughout Western Canada on offshore, in situ oil sands, and shale oil and gas projects.
Chris is the owner of Sustainative Inc., which provides Indigenous engagement consulting services for both community and corporate organizations. Sustainative Inc. has provided services for organizations such as Dow Canada, Habitat for Humanity, and the Prince Albert Grand Council. Chris is also a Sessional Instructor at the University of Calgary in the School of Public Policy.
chris@nic-inc.ca | Yukon
Michael Peters
CEO, Glooscap Ventures, Glooscap First Nation
Michael currently serves as the CEO at Glooscap Ventures, Glooscap First Nation’s economic development corporation. He has been with the organization since 2015. Michael started out as an Economic Development Officer with Glooscap First Nation in 2015 and eventually moved into other management roles and then to the CEO position.
In 2023 Michael graduated with his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. Michael also attended Dalhousie University where he studied renewable energy technologies and graduated with the Sustainable Energy Technologies Professional Certification (SEPT). Before both Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie, Michael had attended the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) where he studied International Business.
Before post-secondary and Glooscap Ventures, Michael was an entrepreneur with investments in the food and beverage industry.
Michael’s background is in business development where he contributed to the creation of Glooscap Landing, Glooscap Corner, Glooscap Energy and the Glooscap Seafood companies. Today these companies employ many community members and generate own source revenue for the community of Glooscap First Nation.
Michael is the current Co-Chair for the Mi’kmaq-Canada-Nova Scotia Triparted Economic Development Committee, Chair of the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce, Governor on the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Board of Governors and Board Member of Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnow Agency (WMA) a corporate partnership owned by all 13 Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq communities. Michael also serves as the Chair of Indigenous Gaming Partners (IGP) Board of Directors. IGP is the third largest casino company in Canada and the largest 100% Canadian owned casino company in Canada. He is also an active member of the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO), Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), and Project Management Institute (PMI).
Michael is a proud member of the Mi’kmaw community of Glooscap First Nation. He lives in the small town of Hantsport with his wife Audrey, daughter Faye and pug Darwin.
michael@nic-inc.ca | Nova Scotia