Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
In October 2008, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip concluded his fourth consecutive four year term as Chief of the Penticton Indian Band (PIB), and served the Band as Chief for a total of 16 years. In addition, he served as an elected Band Councilor for a 10-year period. Aside from serving as a member of the PIB Council for a total of 24 years, and served as the Chair of the Okanagan Nation Alliance for 15 years.
In October 2006, the Okanagan Nation, led by the Elders of the Penticton Indian Band, acknowledged his lifetime commitment to the defense of Indigenous Peoples' Title and Rights by bestowing on him and his family the rare honour of the title of Grand Chief.
Over 38 years, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip worked within the Penticton Indian Band Administration holding a variety of positions such as Band Administrator, Director of Land Management, Education Counselor, Economic Development Officer and Band Planner.
Aside from serving as a member of the PIB council for a total of 24 years, he is proud to be in his eighth three-year term as the President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.
He has taken an active role in the defense of Aboriginal Title and Rights by readily offering support to Native communities in need. He has taken a personal approach seeing first-hand the impact of fish farms in the Broughton Archipelago, lobbying on Parliament Hill to defeat the First Nations Governance Act, standing with Elders of Treaty 8 against oil and gas development in the Peace River, burning referendum ballots with fellow chiefs in protest and has stood on the steps of the Legislature with 3000 other people united under the Title and Rights Alliance banner. In November 2018, Grand Chief Phillip was awarded a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the University of British Columbia for his life-long advocacy and work.
Grand Chief Phillip has been married for 34 years to his wife Joan. They have three grown sons, two daughters, six granddaughters and nine grandsons. He is currently enjoying his 32nd year of sobriety. In this regard, he is a firm believer in leading by example.
“I hereby commit to work collectively with the Chiefs of the UBCIC, the First Nations Summit and the BC Assembly of First Nations. We must work together to ensure the governments of Canada and British Columbia endorse and implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for our Nations and communities. We must work together to compel government to update the Comprehensive Claims Policy to reflect the many hard-fought court victories such as the Delgamuuk’w, Haida and William cases” -- Grand Chief Stewart Phillip.
Chief Don Tom
Vice-President
Chief Don Tom was born and raised in the WSANEC territory on the Tsartlip First Nation located on the Saanich Peninsula. Chief Tom is Coast Salish of the WSANEC and Stzmenus people, and NUU-CHAN-NULTH of the Ahousaht.
He found his passion for advocacy at the age of 16, where he co-authored the BC Children’s Commission, Youth Report, a report that looked at Youth-Services and Youth in care.
In 2007 he joined the Public Service sector as the inaugural BC Indigenous Youth Internship; where he served with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, on the Transformation Task Team.
Serving his 3rd consecutive term as Chief of the Tsartlip First Nation, as Chief he has successfully defended desecration of Grace Islet, and the proposed LNG Floating Facility.
Chief Tom is the Vice-President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and a member of the First Nations Leadership Council. His political files include Emergency Management, Cannabis, Hunting and Wildlife. His highlights include witnessing the introduction and passing of B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Chief Marilyn Slett
Secretary-Treasurer
K̓áwáziɫ Marilyn Slett is a citizen of the Heiltsuk Nation and the elected Chief Councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council. She is currently serving her fourth consecutive term as Chief Councillor, beginning in 2008.
She is the President of the Coastal First Nations/Great Bear Initiative and is a member of the Vancouver Coastal Health Board of Directors. She previously held the position of the BC Assembly of First Nations Women’s Representative on the National Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council and Co-Chair of the Wild Salmon Advisory Council and former Board of Director for the BC Assembly of First Nations.
During her time as Chief Councillor, Marilyn has guided the Nation on many major endeavours focused on protecting Heiltsuk title and rights and British Columbia’s marine health. Marilyn views Heiltsuk title and rights and way of life as intrinsically connected to a protected and healthy coastal environment.