Larry Railton

Larry Railton, M.A. (retired) has over 30 years of experience in education, both as an instructor and administrator at various educational institutions including Langara College Aboriginal Studies and Continuing Education, Native Education College, Vancouver Early Child Education and Montessori College, Century College, and Burnaby College. He also held the position of Director of Education for the Métis Nation British Columbia and provided consultation services to the Métis National Council regarding educational resources. Larry has lectured nationally and internationally at various conferences on early and post-secondary education. Prior experience includes 14 years as Executive Director of New Westminster Child Development Centre, and 3 years serving as International Association Theatrical Stage Employee (IATSE) Local 118 Union President.

Larry has served as Board member of the Métis Commission for Children and Families, served as Representative and International Advisor to the World Forum Foundation (Washington), Board Member and President of the Canadian Association for Young Children, and member of the New Westminster Community and Social Issues Committee.

Larry currently serves as an elder for Vancity’s Wealth Mindset Program, which focuses on Indigenous Financial Resilience, and advisor to the World Forum for Early Care and Education Conference Committee.

Larry holds a Master’s degree in Leadership & Training from Royal Roads University.

Larry lives in New Westminster, on the territory of the Qayqayt [Ke-kite] First Nation with his wife, Virginia. He enjoys gardening, wood working, and visits with his three grandchildren.

William Lindsay

William G. Lindsay, Cree-Stoney, B.Ed. M.A. Ph.D. (ABD) is retired as of 2022 after working for a quarter century in post-secondary education. This was preceded by a career in the hotel-restaurant industry. He served most recently as the Senior Director, Indigenous Directions at Concordia University in Montréal. He has experience as a college professor, university educator, researcher and published writer, student services coordinator, Associate Director, Director, and Senior Director, across the following institutions: Concordia University, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, Douglas College, Institute of Indigenous Government, and Native Education College.

The denouement to William's career, the award-winning book Rez Dog Blues & The Haiku: A Savage Life in Bits and Pieces, was released on Amazon in December 2021. William has served on the Governing Boards of two institutions, the Native Education College and the Institute of Indigenous Government. In addition, he has served as Chair of the Aboriginal Steering Committee at Simon Fraser University and Chair of the Indigenous Directions Leadership Group at Concordia University in Montréal. William is fluent in English, conversational in Mandarin Chinese, and has some ability in Cree and French. In retirement, William volunteers at Covenant House Vancouver.

Sharon Hobenshield

Sharon Hobenshield’s traditional name is Ha-Youly. She belongs to the Wilp Malii from the Gitxsan First Nation on her mother’s side and is of German ancestry on her father’s side. Sharon has 25 years’ experience working on Coast Salish Territory as a social worker and educator and has worked at Vancouver Island University in a leadership role since 2006 as the Director of Indigenous Education and Engagement. She believes strongly in Indigenous led and controlled programs and services to ensure authenticity of spirit and culture and to uphold the self-determining rights of Indigenous people.

Sharon has a Bachelor of Social Work, Master’s in Education and Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy. Her dissertation, Haq wil la hlo is sim: Walk Slowly on the Breath of your Ancestors, was an examination of gift-giving within Post-Secondary Education and inspired by her Grandfather’s teachings. Sharon is a proud mother of twin girls and makes her home in Nanoose Bay with her partner and mother.

Sharon is currently Executive Director of Kw’umut Lelum Foundation.

Chief Jim Harris

Chief Harris was the founder of Red Road Driving School, which enabled members of the Indigenous community of S'ólh Téméxw on the Stó꞉lō Traditional Territory, as well as people from off-reserve communities, to get their driver's licence. This has improved their mobility and increased their access to educational opportunities, travel and jobs. Red Road Driving School is led by Chief Harris, who after 3 years off, was elected in 2020 as Chief of Seabird Island Band, a rural community of roughly 1200 members, located three kilometres east of Agassiz, British Columbia.

In the past Chief Harris was a Council Member for 18 years from 1999 till 2017 when the new election code came into place. For a number of those years Chief Harris was part of the Council’s executive committee. He would also like to keep up the work with all levels of non-First Nation governments. According to Chief Harris, this needs to be done to have and keep good relations. We need to make sure these governments include all the surrounding First Nations councils and their membership.

Jaclyn Lawrence (ICBC employee)

Jaclyn Lawrence works as Legal Counsel in Claims Strategy and Programs. Prior to joining ICBC, she practised in the areas of criminal defence and civil litigation.

Jaclyn is Red River Métis and a Métis Nation BC citizen. She is committed to advocating for Indigenous voices to create more informed and inclusive spaces in both professional and community settings. Active in her community, she has volunteered with various organizations focused on outreach and advocacy, including The Elizabeth Fry Society and Legal Aid.

She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg.