Board of Directors

Anthony Wingham is a Métis entrepreneur, educator, economic development professional and community leader originally from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, now living in Langley, British Columbia. His work has focused on Indigenous entrepreneurship, economic development, education, digital literacy, youth mentorship and strengthening Métis communities.

Anthony is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Nuez Acres, an Indigenous-owned, women-led company that has grown into a nationally distributed brand. Through that work, he has gained firsthand experience in entrepreneurship, manufacturing, retail, marketing, supply chains and export development. He has also worked as an Indigenous Export Advisor with Export Navigator, supporting Indigenous-owned businesses across British Columbia as they build export readiness, identify new markets and develop strategies for sustainable growth.

Education and skills development have been a significant part of Anthony’s work. Through Jelly Academy, he has delivered digital literacy, technology and export-focused training to Indigenous learners and entrepreneurs, helping make digital tools, business knowledge and emerging technologies more accessible. He has also contributed to Indigenous youth education and mentorship through Connected North and the Indigenous Youth Prosperity Foundation, supporting young people in developing skills, confidence and pathways into entrepreneurship and the workforce.

Anthony previously served as President of Waceya Métis Society, representing Métis Citizens in Langley and White Rock and helping expand community programming, partnerships and opportunities for Citizens to connect with culture and one another. His broader leadership experience includes service with the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association’s Indigenous Youth Business Advisory Council, the BC Indigenous Housing Society, Vancity’s Indigenous Advisory Committee and the MNBC Métis Business Advisory Council.

Anthony has continued his own education through programs at BCIT, UBC Sauder School of Business, Royal Roads University, the University of Victoria and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He brings to his role a combination of community leadership, entrepreneurship, governance, education and economic development experience, grounded in years of working directly with Métis citizens, Indigenous entrepreneurs, youth, communities and partners across British Columbia and Canada.

Anthony lives in Langley with his wife Nancy and their children, Nathaniel and Sophia.

Melanie Allard is a proud Métis woman who is descendant from a long line of proud Cree and Métis peoples, family names; Primeau, Vermette, Villebrun, Laliberté, Danis, Beaudry, and Frobisher. Melanie was born in New Westminster B.C. and has lived in many places across British Columbia. She spent 17 years in Alberta. Melanie was connected to her Métis culture when she moved to Kamloops in 2010. She received her Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) Citizenship card in 2010, later becoming the President of Two Rivers Métis Society in Kamloops B.C. between 2010 and 2017. Melanie shared the position in Kamloops as the Women’s representative for Two Rivers that connected Métis women to their heritage and culture.

Melanie is a Recreation Therapist (RT) who graduated from Canadore College in Ontario. She completed a Health Care Aid (HCA) Diploma from Academy of Learning in 2011. She spent many years working with seniors, elders, and young adults in the Kamloops care facilities Hamlets at Westsyde, Gemstone Care Center, Ridgeview Lodge and River Bend and Mayfair Seniors Community from 2011 to 2017. During this time Melanie also ventured into the world of entrepreneurs and continues to operate a small business in Kamloops. Melanie has been happily married for 33 years having 2 beautiful daughters and 5 grandchildren.

Melanie became the Kamloops Program Coordinator in 2017 for the Métis Employment and Training Program (METP) for region 3 of MNBC. Her career with MNBC advanced and she was promoted to the Senior Director position of Employment and Training (METP). She has excelled in this position through application of excellent time management and organizational oversight that has ensured the continued operational excellence at all seven regional offices across the province. Melanie has experience and is dedicated to Children and Families; her work with Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and community Services and Kikékyelc a Place of belonging in Kamloops gives her a lens for future planning towards jurisdiction.

Melanie has always dedicated time assisting the people in our Métis communities and is excited to serve as our MNBC Vice President. As VP Melanie has several key priorities; affirming Métis Rights, Recognition and Self Government, advancing Economic Development Initiatives; Development of our Elders council and bringing it to fruition, supporting the advancement of Métis Children and Families within our Nation. Putting all our citizens in the center of her decisions, she is committed to shared leadership, transparency, and a positive approach to nation building at all levels-local, regional, provincial and national for the betterment of all Métis citizens.

Carmen Carriere is the elected Chairperson for the Métis Women of BC (MWBC) and holds the portfolios for Women and Gender Equity and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Carmen is a proud Michif woman whose roots run deep in the Red River, where her father and grandparents were born. Some of her family names are Carriere, Hamelin, Parenteau, Vandal, Larence, St. Germain, McGillvray and the unnamed Cree and Anishinaabe women that populate her family tree.

Prior to being elected, Carmen was a secondary Social Studies and English teacher and an advocate for pediatric heart transplantation and children living with disability. Carmen was previously the elected Region 2 Women’s representative and a board member who served on the Surrey Delta Métis Association and the Vancouver Sea to Sky Métis Association. Carmen also sat on the Indigenous Feedback and Accountability Committee for the Fraser Health Authority and on the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee for the Vancouver School Board.

Carmen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Bachelor of Education, both from the University of British Columbia. Carmen completed the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program through the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish Nova Scotia – a program that she now serves as a mentor for. Carmen enjoys writing non-fiction, reading, walking and spending time with her family. Carmen’s biggest and most proud accomplishment, however, is the raising of her four amazing children who are so proud to be Métis.

Danielle Bergevin (she/her) is a proud Michif person and citizen of the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC), with deep ancestral ties to the Red River. Danielle is the MNBC Provincial Youth Chair, Minister of Youth, and Minister of Mental Health and Harm Reduction. She lives with gratitude on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Kwikwetlem First Nation, in what is colonially known as Coquitlam. This area also lies within the shared territories of other Coast Salish Peoples, including the Qayqayt, Tsleil-Waututh, Katzie, Musqueam, and Squamish Nations.

Danielle is a registered social worker with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Simon Fraser University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Prior to the MNBC election, Danielle was the Region 2 (Lower Mainland) Youth Representative and the Vice-Chair for the Métis Youth British Columbia (MYBC) Council.

Danielle has a passion for mental health and has applied this passion to her work as a counselling therapist, where she offers mental health care, recognizing the importance of balance in physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellness.
Throughout her term, Danielle aims to elevate youth voices, create opportunities for relationship-building among Métis youth across the province, and continue advocating for culturally relevant and supportive mental health services for Métis people in BC.

Louis has served as Minister of Economic Development & Tourism and Minister of Health for Métis Nation BC (2020-2024). He is a business entrepreneur, social activist, and community advocate. Louis has been a sessional instructor of Indigenous Studies (Chilliwack campus) at the University of the Fraser Valley, sits on the Indigenous Advisory Board for UFV’s School of Business and the UFV Senate Committee on Indigenization. Louis also served as the Chair of MNBC’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ Committee (2021-2024).

With a hospitality career that spans 35 years, the former Restaurant Owner (Bravo Restaurant & Lounge 2004-2016), 2015 Federal Liberal Party of Canada candidate for Chilliwack-Hope, and 2018 candidate for Chilliwack city council completed his Executive master’s degree in business (EMBA) at Simon Fraser University with certification in Aboriginal Governance from the University of Arizona. His Executive master’s degree covers the philosophy of management, business communication, managerial and financial accounting, marketing management, entrepreneurship and scaling and growing businesses. Louis is a recipient of the Al McCracken Memorial Award for Provincial Volunteer of the Year in BC, and the RBC Entrepreneur Scholarship Award for business. Louis grew up in Winnipeg with ancestral ties to the Métis families of Sinclair, Norquay, Anderson, Monkman, Truthwaite and was also past-President, and Board Member of the Chilliwack Métis Association.

Patrick Harriott is currently in his second term as Regional Director for Region 1. His portfolio work includes the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Language, Minister of Justice, Minister of Poverty Reduction and Unhoused, Associate Minister of Métis Rights, and MNBC Treasurer. His passion for good governance also led him to being the chair of the MNBC Governance Committee, and the MNBC Board representative on the Métis Nation Governing Assembly’s Electoral Act and Governance Committees.

Harriott spent most of his childhood in Manitoba where he frequently hunted and picked chokecherries with his grandfather on their family’s Métis scrip lands. He moved to Victoria and followed his family’s legacy of entrepreneurship by founding and operating a successful landscaping company for 15 years.

A love of Métis culture and community drew him to volunteer his time with Métis Nation Greater Victoria. He joined the community board of directors, and after 5 years, became the President for 4 years. During this time, he represented the community on School District 61 Indigenous Advisory council as co-chair, University of Victoria Indigenous advisory, Capital Regional District – Reaching Home homelessness funding advisory committee, and the Victoria Urban Reconciliation Dialogue steering committee. Patrick is currently the founding chair of the Victoria Indigenous Community Advisory Board for the Indigenous stream of Reaching Home funding. He spent 2 years on the BC Government “In Plain Sight” Racism in Healthcare Task Team on the Legislative Committee. Patrick also sits on the BC Minister’s Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee.

Regionally, for Vancouver Island, Patrick worked hard to organize a restart to the annual Vancouver Island Métis Rendezvous. He also helped drive the creation of the newly formed Amelia Douglas Institute for Métis Culture and Language. ADI’s purpose is to educate the public about Métis people, collect the history of Métis people in BC, and support the revitalization of Métis culture, language, and artistic expression.

I am just a regular guy with a big heart for the Métis citizens. What I may lack in public speaking I feel I more than make up for in my passion and understanding for the Métis communities and citizens. I will walk that extra mile and always hear you.

I was raised in a proud Métis family.  My ancestry is deeply connected to the Red River Valley. It was always something we spoke of at home and during our many gatherings.

As an adoptive parent of a Métis child and I believe we need to educate our citizens to enable them to foster and keep our children within our communities and homes so that they may know who they are, where they come from and be proud of their people and traditions.

I am a good listener. I will listen to and hear the issues our Elders and Veterans are facing. I know that affordable housing and medical assistance are a couple of the issues they are struggling with right now and with their help and suggestions we can find a path through their issues.

Co-Founder and Past President of the Waceya Métis Society enabled me to meet and speak with many Citizens. Some things I have been privileged to be a part of were: paddling in RCMP and community canoe journeys including the canoe journey to Lummi many years ago.

I also attended the Cowichan Indigenous Games and being included in the BC Chiefs talks was an amazing experience and honour.

Big Brothers of Canada is a long-time commitment of mine. When I was introduced to my “little brother” 29 years ago he was shy, timid and introverted. Today he works in the film industry, is married with a family and we are his extended parents, he is our other son.

I have been an Ironworker for 37 years working across Canada and the United States. I am hoping to extend my knowledge of the trades to all Métis Citizens allowing them to make an informed decision as to the working future that is available to them.

Outgoing and passionate for life I pride myself in always being active in my community. Whether it be coaching and supporting our youth in Hockey, Baseball, Soccer, being Umpire in Chief or helping in the concession stands. I am always there to lend a hand or a shoulder. At this time in my life, I share sports and many adventures with my grandson. I believe the youth keep us young while we educate them on their heritage and ancestors so that they can pass on this knowledge to the next generation. Core values are so important and are what we need to get back to.

I am proud and excited to be your Region 2 Director. I am excited to get to know as many of you as I can, listen to your concerns and find a path through to a conclusion together. I am here for you.

Dean L. Gladue is MNBC’s Region 3 Director, Minister of Métis Rights, Minister of Sport and Active Living, Associate Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Partnership Development and Associate Minister of Justice. He retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2015 after 26 years, where he worked with numerous Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada. Minister Gladue represented the RCMP on the team responsible for bringing the Drug and Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program to B.C. He was also an integral part of the National Aboriginal Shield Program development process. Minister Gladue is a skilled community developer, strategic thinker, expert team builder and a persuasive negotiator, seasoned in conflict mitigation and resolution.

Minister Gladue sits on MNBC’s Métis Business Advisory Committee, Strategic Relations and Initiatives Committee, Credit Union Exploratory Committee and volunteers his time to various local groups within his community. He is a passionate Métis citizen and takes great pride in serving his Métis Nation. Long live the Métis!

Debra Fisher serves as the Region 4 Director (Kootenay). Her historical Métis family names are Bourassa/Boyer/Piche/Ouellette/Dumont/Ross on her mother’s side from Red River, Manitoba and Batoche/Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan area. Debra was born, raised and continues to live in Invermere, BC on the sacred and unceded shared territory of the beautiful Ktunaxa and Secwepemc people. She has been married to her husband Ken for 47 years, has 3 grown children and numerous grandchildren who are her rocks.  She is the Minister of Children and Families and Minister of Education (Early Years/K-12) for her second term, which is truly her life’s heart work along with advocating for her Métis Nation.

Her family has hosted over 35 children through foster care, traditional custom care and international students. She puts the child in the middle of all her nation’s decisions and has worked extensively with indigenous students throughout her 26-year career with her local school district taking low graduation rates to a record high. She was appointed to the Executive as Secretary for Métis Nation BC for this term and continues to serve of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Children and Family Service Society and Interior Health Leadership Table. She completed her service on the BC “In Plain Sight Provincial Task Force” and was a founding member of the People & Culture (HR) and the Credit Union Exploratory Committee for her nation. She is a proud, strong and fierce advocate for children.  In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family, quiet time at the cabin, kayaking, travelling and traditional beading and crafts

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
Nelson Mandela

Raynie Gervais is now officially into his 3rd term as Region 5 Director officially decided in the MNBC General Election of 2024. Gervais was first elected as Region 5 Director in 2016, and since then, he managed to carry on a successful record of proven leadership in his director role.

Raynie comes from a large grassroots Métis family from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, and was raised by Métis parents along with 10 other siblings. The family would later move to Prince George, BC in 1964 for more opportunities and a better way of life. It was here that Gervais would later raise his own family with his wife, Beverley and 3 children and make Prince George his permanent home to the present day.

As the years went by, Raynie would get involved as a President of a Métis society in Prince George for a 4-year stint. It was the experience he got in community governance in this role that would convince him in later years to set his sights on a bigger leadership role as Region 5 Director for MNBC. Gervais would successfully win his first MNBC Election in 2016. In his first term, Gervais held the Ministry of Culture, Language, and Heritage and also sat on the National level Michif Language working group on behalf of MNBC. From the second term of 2020-2024, Gervais would hold the Associate M of Culture, Language, and Heritage as well as his new portfolio, the Minister of Elders.

Raynie Gervais brings to MNBC, tons of knowledge to his 2 portfolios of Minister and Elders and as Associate Minister of Culture, Language, and Heritage to the current term. From his rich cultural attributes, he inherited from his family’s history to the training and skills from his last 2 terms, have proved very beneficial to his work as Director.  Gervais also has a great amount of knowledge in the areas of economic development from a Diploma in Entrepreneurial Business, and from his previous work in Métis housing development in past years.

Susie Hooper began her journey as a Tri River Community member and sat on their board volunteering in community for many years. In 2008 Susie was elected as the Northwest Regional Women’s Representative. She then ran and was elected as the Regional Director for Region 6 Northwest, serving from 2012-2024, and has recently been re-appointed to serve the Northwest Region in MNBC’s 2024 election. Susie knows that our Métis Nation has grown and advanced with the hard work of our board and our staff. We are moving forward with hard work, dedication, collaboration and communication, and we still have a lot of work to do. Susie now serves as Minister of Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Minister of Citizenship and Associate Minister of Health and Wellness.

Susie continues to learn more about Métis heritage and culture. She is proud to be a mother, sister, aunty, daughter, friend and granny to three beautiful grandchildren. Retired in January of 2020 from the Bulkley Valley School District #54, Susie worked with at-risk youth in an alternate school setting for 31 years. She is honoured to have the faith and trust of the citizens in our Northwest region to continue bringing the Northwest voice to the table.

Paulette has post-secondary training in Native Communications and Public Relations from Grant MacEwan College and an Aboriginal Management Certification from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. In 2013, she received an Honorary Associate Arts Degree from Northern Lights College and is a graduate of two life coaching programs. Flamond’s dedication to advocacy for entrepreneurial and capacity development of Métis, Inuit and First Nations is demonstrated by her 20-year term as Executive Director of the Northeast Aboriginal Business Centre where she helped others start and expand businesses. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for ICBC and the Metis Financial Corporation of BC. Flamond also served on provincial and federal boards for the last 30 years, including Minister Mary Polak’s Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women from 2011 to 2019. Flamond has been honoured with many awards for her advocacy work including Aboriginal Woman of the Year from Community Futures and, most recently, the BC Achievement Foundation Award of Distinction for her endeavours to elevate Indigenous business in BC.