Tsleil-Waututh Nation hosted the semi-annual International Advisory Council (IAC) meeting on their homelands in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Chief Leah George and fellow citizens of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation welcomed the IAC with a prayer and song. They also spent time with the IAC to discuss more about their Nation and a tour of their reserve. The meeting focused on NNI research activities and youth programming, as well as learning about First Nations governance from two additional guest speakers: the Honorable Jody Wilson-Raybould, (Kwakwaka’wakw) newly elected Member of Parliament and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada; and Richard Jock (Mohawks of Akwesasne), Chief Operations Officer and Acting Executive Director, First Nations Health Authority. US participants learned that the challenges faced by First Nations are very similar to what Native nations experience in the United States, providing an opportunity for cross-learning.

Top image: Back row (left to right): Mary Beth Jager, Eldena Bear Don't Walk (IAC Member), Eileen Briggs, IAC Member), Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould, Hon. Denny Hurtado (IAC Co-Chair), Miriam Jorgensen, Chief Leah George, Front Row: (left to right) Hon. Michael Mitchell (IAC Member), Sophie Pierre IAC Co-Chair, David Gipp (IAC Member), and Joan Timeche

Bottom image: Hon. Sophie Pierre IAC Co-Chair and Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould