Board - Legacy of Hope Foundation

Who We Are

Board

The nine members of the LHF Board of Directors are:

Richard Kistabish , Chairperson
Elizebeth Palfrey , Secretary/Treasurer
Dr. Marlyn Cook
Mike DeGagné
Dan George
Martha Flaherty
Murray Ironchild
Debbie Reid
Graham E. Sanders
Cindy Swanson

Richard Kistabish (Chairperson) : An Algonquin from the Abitibiwinni First Nation, Quebec, who speaks English, French and Algonquin fluently. He is the former President of Social Services Minokin and has been involved in the field of health and social services at the regional and provincial levels for many years. He served as Administrator and Manager of the health committee, Kitcisakik, as Chief of Abitibiwinni First Nation, and as Grand Chief of the Algonquin Council of Quebec for 2 terms. His publications include Mental Health and Aboriginal People of Quebec, the Green Book Position Paper of the Algonquin Nation on Environmental Issues, and the National Inquiry into First Nation Child Care.

Elizebeth Palfrey (Secretary/Treasurer) : Ms. Palfrey is a Métis based in Winnipeg and Rankin Inlet and has an extensive health and business background. She is currently working on special projects for the Evaz Group as a Board Member and shareholder. The Evaz Group, a company with operations throughout Nunavut, has been active in business development for thirty years and is committed to developing a healthy and diverse private sector economy to allow greater opportunity for its residents.

Ms Palfrey, a grandmother, has been active on community boards and issues for many years and continues to be committed to Aboriginal youth, assisting wherever possible to instill cultural pride, self-esteem, and hope for the future.

Dr Maryln Cook : Dr. Cook was born at Norway House, Manitoba. A graduate of the University of Manitoba (M.D.), she currently practices Family Medicine at the Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose Factory, Ontario.

Among her previous positions are Co-Chair, First Nations Task Force on Child and Family Services (in Winnipeg, Manitoba), Consultant to the Medical Services Branch (Winnipeg), Province of Manitoba Medical Examiner, University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine's Traditional Teachings Program – Debriefing Tutorials, and Assistant Director, Clinical Operations, at the Medical Services Branch of Health Canada (Winnipeg).

Dr. Cook has sat on numerous Committees and Boards, including the Swampy Cree AIDS Steering Committee, the Manitoba Chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada Board, the Mino-Ayaawin Advisory Committee of the Native Women's Transition Centre, the Thompson General Hospital Perinatal Mortality Committee, and the Balancing Choices and Opportunities in Sciences and Technology for Aboriginal People National Steering Committee. She was also the Chair of the Facility Planning Committee and a Board Member at the Sioux Lookout Mino-Ya-Win Health Centre.

Dr. Cook is currently a member of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Drug Utilization Evaluation Committee, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, in addition to serving on Aboriginal Healing Foundation and the Legacy of Hope Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2005. She also sits on the Advisory Council for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.

Mike DeGagné : Mike DeGagné is the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a national Aboriginal organization dedicated to addressing the legacy of Canada's Indian Residential School System. He has worked in the field of addiction and mental health for the past 25 years, first as a community worker on-reserve in northern Ontario and later with the Addiction Research Foundation (ARF), the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), and the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP). With the federal government, he has been an Executive manager in Aboriginal health, and a land claims negotiator. Mike lectures and teaches nationally and internationally on issues of Aboriginal health, Residential Schools, reconciliation, and governance. He is currently the Vice-President of the Child Welfare League of Canada, and past Chairman of the Queensway Carleton Hospital. He holds degrees in health and administration, and has a PhD focusing on Aboriginal post secondary education.

Martha Flaherty : Martha Flaherty is a past President of Pauktuutit, the Inuit Womens’ Association and also a previous Executive member of the Inuit Tapirisat of Kanatami (ITK).

Ms. Flaherty was born in Inukjuaq, Nunavik (formerly Port Harrison, Quebec). At the age of five, along with her family, she was relocated to Grise Fiord, NWT., the most northerly community in Canada.

Ms. Flaherty is a steadfast advocate for Inuit women, children and youth, and has addressed a wide variety of Canadian and international audiences.

Ms. Flaherty was a member of the Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women, which travelled across Canada. As a result of her tireless efforts, she has become one of the most respected Inuit leaders in Canada and is listed in the 1996 edition of “Who’s Who of Canadian Women”.

Dan George: Dan George is the President of Four Directions Management Services Ltd. (1994), a wholly owned Aboriginal economic and social development organization dedicated to responding to the expressed needs of Aboriginal individuals, organizations and communities. FDMS has a diverse network of consultants providing expertise in negotiation, facilitation, strategic management and communications.

Dan’s extensive experience in Aboriginal community development includes: Chief Negotiator, Office of the Wet’Suwet’en; Executive Director, Prince George Native Friendship Centre; and Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Mountain Pine Beetle Initiative. He is a vigorous and passionate advocate for the “building of bridges of better understanding between Aboriginal Peoples, Industry, Private Sector, local communities and governments”.

Dan is a proud and committed Board member of the Fraser Basin Council, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Partnerships BC, Legacy of Hope Foundation and the Cedar Project.

Dan is a lifelong resident of Prince George, B.C., and is a proud member of the Gilseyhu Clan (Big Frog) of the Wet’suwet’en people from Hagwilget, B.C. He has been married for twenty-three years to his wife Teresa, and together they have two daughters, Amanda and Brittany, and one granddaughter, Kiana. Currently, Dan is completing his Masters of Administration in Conflict Analysis and Management at the Royal Roads University.

Murray Ironchild : Murray is a former councillor and Chief of the Piapot First Nation in Saskatchewan. Currently working as a Cultural/Traditional Advisor with the All Nations' Healing Centre of the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, Mr. Ironchild brings to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation his interest and experience in traditional medicine and Aboriginal health.

Debbie Reid : Biography forthcoming.

Graham E. Sanders : Graham Sanders, is the President and sole shareholder of Wolfcrest Capital Advisors Inc., and investment advisor to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. An Englishman by birth, he came to Canada in 1967 and became a naturalised Canadian five years later.

With more than 30 years of experience in Canadian fixed income markets at the time, Graham was asked to help with the creation of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation’s investment program at it’s inception in 1998. He was subsequently asked to stay on in advisory role, which continues today.

Cindy Swanson : Ms. Swanson is a Metis elementary teacher with the Edmonton Public School Board since 2000. She lives in Edmonton where she teaches in an Aboriginal school. She was appointed as a provincial member of the Metis National Youth Advisory Council (from October 1995 to September 1998) and has participated with Metis and First Nations youth initiatives and organizations.

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