Eva Clayton
President: Nisga’a Nation
Eva Clayton is acting chair of the Alliance, succeeding Crystal Smith, former chief councillor of the Haisla Nation and now the Alliance’s special advisor on external relations.
The position will be formally filled at the first meeting of the board of directors in January.
Eva Clayton became in 2016 the first female president (and seventh president) of the Nisga’a Nation in northwestern BC. She thus sits at the most senior level of the Nisga’a Lisims Government, on behalf of the seven Nisga’a communities, and the Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisga’a (House of Making Nisga’a Law).
She is also a leader of the Nation’s Ksi Lisims LNG project.
Eva began working with the Nisga’a Tribal Council in 1982, working with Nisga’a leaders including Dr. Frank Calder, James Gosnell, and Rod Robinson, while they were negotiating what would become the Nisga’a Final Agreement, Canada’s first modern-day treaty.
Eva’s Nisga’a name is Yats’. She lives in her home community, the Nisga’a village of New Aiyansh, with her husband Eric. Eva and Eric have three daughters, Megan and twins Kelsey and Amanda, and Eva is the proud grandmother to eight grandchildren.
Clifford White
Chief, Gitxaala Nation
Clifford White (Nees Ma’Outa) is a hereditary leader and a former elected chief councillor of the Gitxaala Nation.
He is a lifelong facilitator and trainer, and has been involved for more than 10 years with the First Nations Court in New Westminster. He is an elder of the court. He also works with BC’s Aboriginal Family Healing Court project, a pilot program that deals with Indigenous children and families.
White is also chair of the First Nations Advisory Committee for the province of BC, and has worked with BC’s Industry Training Authority and trades unions on Indigenous workforce development, seeking to ensure that trades training for Indigenous people meets first-class standards.
John Jack
Chief Councillor: Huu-ay-aht First Nations
Sayaačatḥ, John Alan Jack, treasurer of the First Nations Natural Gas Alliance, is the elected chief councillor for Huu-ay-aht First Nations, a modern treaty nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
He has held nearly every major council file and was responsible for the Huu-ay-aht involvement in the once-proposed Kwispaa LNG project with Steelhead LNG of Vancouver. (The project did not proceed.)
He is also his Nations’ representative on the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, and has been its chair since 2016.
He’s a member of the North Island College board of governors, and before that sat on the Vancouver Island University board of governors.
He lives in Oceanside on Vancouver Island.
Ellen Lorentz
Councillor: Ts’il Kaz Koh Nation
Ellen Lorentz has sat on council for Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation since the beginning of 2018. The nation is located in the rural village of Burns Lake, in the northwest central Interior of BC.
Ellen is concerned about the environment. She aspires to be educated on industry, specifically liquefied natural gas (LNG), and to communicate balanced LNG information.
She has been on the board of directors for the First Nations Natural Gas Alliance since February 2021.
She has served on the board of Carrier Sekani Family Services, and the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation. She has also sat on tables at the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council.
Ellen has lived most of her life in the Okanagan with her husband, Ken, and three children, Kelsey, Cory and Nikki. She spent years driving truck and school bus, until a work place injury ended that career.
Jacqueline Thomas
Councillor: Saik’uz Nation
Jackie Thomas has been an elected councillor for the Saik’uz First Nation since 2019. She earlier served two terms as chief councillor, and a term as her nation’s land and resources manager
She is a mother of four and grandmother of one, is a member of the Frog clan, and resides on reserve.
Ms. Thomas has been involved in community development for over three decades. She’s a board member of the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association. And she is a director of her nation’s Tin Toh Forest Products, and of the First Nations Limited Partnership.
Her passions are traditional activities on the land: hunting, fishing, gathering medicines, and ceremonies.
Jade Irwin
Manager: Skin Tyee Nation
Jade Irwin, general band manager of Skin Tyee Nation in BC, is secretary of the Alliance.
With a background in oil, gas, and pipeline work, and near completion of a financial management degree, she came back to work for her Nation, focusing on economic development and building strong relationships with other Nations to develop investment opportunities.
Although her main role for the Nation is in business, Jade’s passion is keeping youth active in culture, health, sports, and education to build a strong foundation for success in life.
Sharon Turner
Councillor: Wet’suwet’en First Nation
Since 2016, Sharon has worked in finance and administration with various First Nations organizations, building a strong foundation in governance, accountability, and community service.
As a Wet’suwet’en councillor, Sharon holds portfolios in economic development, natural resources and energy, elders (shared), housing and infrastructure (shared), and jobs and training. Her work reflects both professional expertise and heartfelt commitment to community well-being.
Jacob Albertson
McLeod Lake Indian Band; (CEO, Duz Cho Group of Companies)
The Duz Cho group is 100% owned by the McLeod Lake Indian Band, 150 km north of Prince George.
Before being appointed CEO, Jacob held roles including general manager for Duz Cho Construction for over five years.
Before that he worked 18 years in civil construction and forestry, starting as an equipment operator and field supervisor in northern BC. That involved
work on large projects including the Site C Dam and the Coastal GasLink pipeline.