Our Board of Directors

Mary is Gitk’san and Carrier from Takla Lake First Nation, and is a proud member of the Luxgaboo Wolf Clan. She is the Chief Administration Officer, Child and Family Services at Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) where she oversees the provincially delegated programs, youth services, family preservation, maternal child health, and the Highway of Tears Initiative, as well as violence prevention programs.

Mary holds the Hereditary Chiefs name Maaxswxw Gibuu (White Wolf). She has been raised to live her culture, customs, laws and traditions. Mary has long espoused that in order for nations to be revitalized; nations have to heal from the atrocities that occurred through colonization. She maintains that all services, programs and initiatives developed to benefit First Nations have to be built on a cultural foundation.

Mary holds an Executive MBA, Indigenous Business and Leadership from Simon Fraser University and received the Dean’s Convocation Medal for being in top five percent in her class. Mary is Chair of the Directors Forum.

She is a relentless advocate for human, Indigenous, and women’s rights and has served on various provincial, national, and international committees. She represents BC on the Board of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and has acted as a Steering Committee member of the First Nation Early Childhood development Council. She has been a member of the Provincial Ministers Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women, and works tirelessly to inform people about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

Cheryl Williams is Gitxan and serves as the Executive Director of Gitxsan Child & Family Services Society. Over the past 7 years as Executive Director Cheryl has grown the organization to assume a much larger role in design and delivery of culturally appropriate programs and services.

Cheryl holds both a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Social Work.

Kelly is a member of the Squamish Nation from the village of Eslha7n on the shores of North Vancouver, British Columbia in the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples. She is the Granddaughter to the late Harry Newman and Florence (nee John). Her Mother is the late Yataltanault Carole Newman.

Kelley is the Director of Ayás Méńmen Child & Family Services Department where she leads over 70 staff to fulfil the mandate to provide proactive prevention and education strategies to Nation families; negotiate family service, voluntary care and special need agreements with families in need; provide guardianship services to children in care; and to represent Squamish interests.

As Director she is responsible not only for the Administration of programs, but also for the care and well-being of Squamish Nation children. Together with the staff and community, Ayás Méńmen works to exercise Squamish inherent right to take care of thier own and bring peace to children.

Kelley notes that recognizing the inherent strengths of our community regardless of the challenges we face means were are more able to meet the needs of our members in positive healthy ways. This means being grounded in our Squamish values, culture and traditions.

“Our people are guided by awareness that the ways of our ancestors created balance within home, family and community. The foundation of this way of life was having the ability to Guide, Protect and Provide.”

Jennifer Chuckry is the Executive Director of Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services and the Urban Representative on the Our Children Our Way Society Board of Directors.

Cindy is the Executive Director of Nezul Be Hunuyeh Child and Family Services (NBHCFSS) located in Fort St. James and a satellite office in Prince George. She is a proud Cree woman on her father’s side and Irish on her mother’s side, and is also a mother of six beautiful adult children. She is a passionate advocate for systemic change and the rights of Indigenous children and families. Cindy serves as the Ad Hoc Representative on the Our Children Our Way Board of Directors.

Nezul Be Hunuyeh Child & Family Services provides prevention and support services, guardianship, voluntary family and resource services to three nations, Nak’zadli Whut’en, Binche Whut’en and Tl’azt’en Nation. Cindy was employed with Nezul Be Hunuyeh as one of the delegated managers from 2010-2015. Cindy was instrumental in developing and mentoring the Prince George Nezul Be Hunuyeh office and staff. From 2015-2022, Cindy worked as a director within MCFD Provincial Office transforming child welfare policy and practice.

My name is Arlene Adie. I grew up in Nlaka’pamux territory (Ashcroft), where my parents, Ron and Carylon Elliott still reside. I have enjoyed  the privilege or raising my four children in Secwe’pemc’ulucw  (Kamloops and Williams Lake). My seven grandchildren are growing up in Secwe’pemc’ulucw as well ( Salmon Arm and Williams Lake). Arlene serves as the Our Children Our Way Board of Directors Interior Representative / Ad Hoc Member.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Thompson Rivers University in 1999 and have had the honor of serving Indigenous Children and Families in the Williams Lake area since. I have been the Executive Director of Knucwentwecw Society since May of 2007. I am grateful every single day for the teachings I receive from the children, youth, families, elders, community leaders, and colleagues whom I live, work and play.

Christa Smith is the Executive Director of Denisiqi Family Services which delivers community-based, culturally appropriate child and family programs to the ʔEsdilagh, Xeni Gwet’in, Tsideldel, Yunesit’in, Tl’esqox and Ulkatchot’en. She has worked in the child and family service sector for five years and served in an executive capacity for two years. Christa serves as the Our Children Our Way Board of Directors Interior Representative / Ad Hoc Member.

Christa holds a Bachelor of Social Work and Masters of Business Administration.