A member of Muskrat Dam First Nation, Alvin was acclaimed as Grand Chief during the Keewaywin Conference on August 16, 2023. He previously served as NAN Grand Chief from 2015-2021, after several terms as Deputy Grand Chief.

After studying business management at the University of Lethbridge, Alvin served as Executive Director of the Tommy Beardy Memorial Family Treatment Centre in Muskrat Dam from 1990-1993, then Deputy Chief of Muskrat Dam from 1993-1998.

He was Health Director at Nishnawbe Aski Nation from 1998 until first his election to the Executive Council in 2003. Most recently, he served as Health Transformation Lead & Negotiator for NAN’s Health Transformation process from 2021-2023.

He has served with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and provided leadership in several provincial justice initiatives.

Alvin currently resides in Thunder Bay with his wife Tesa and two children.

Women’s Initiatives

Health Policy and Advocacy

• Health Transformation Project
• Mental Health & Addictions
• Dialysis
• Emergency Medical Services
• Public Health
• Health State of Emergency in NAN Territory

Early Years

• Infant Mental Health
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Barriers to Government Issued ID
• Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care

Education

• Education Jurisdiction
• 7 Youth Inquest
• Boarding Home Advocacy

Reclamation & Healing

Governance & Treaty Implementation

• Specific Claims Research & Support
• NAN Licensing and Fur Management Agreement
• Canada Ontario Resource Development Agreement

Housing & Infrastructure

• NAN Housing Project
• Remote Northern Airports
• Transport Canada Flight Duty Regulations
• Winter Roads
• Housing and Infrastructure Standards
• Water Projects
• Fire Safety
• Emergency Management
• Community Infrastructure
• Homelessness

Justice Research & Policy

• NAN-wide Justice Strategy
• Anti-racism
• UNDRIP
• Policing

Sustainable Initiatives

• Economic Development
  • Environment
  • Nuclear Waste

Community Wellness

• Crisis response
  • Men’s Healing Initiative
  • Training
  • Health Emergency Management

Social Services Strategic Advancement & Support/Implementation

• Jordan’s Principle
• Choose Life
• Family Well-Being
• Youth Initiatives
• Coordination Oversight and support for Compensation settlement

Anna Betty Achneepineskum is Anishinaabe-Mushkego from Marten Falls First Nation (Ogoki Post). She was re-elected in August 2021 as the Deputy Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, having previously served as Deputy Grand Chief in 2015-2018. Her current portfolio responsibilities range from community wellness, crisis response, child welfare and child development, justice and policing, women, homelessness, and former Indian Residential Schools.

For over two decades, Anna Betty has worked in the justice and legal fields in the areas of legal aid, restorative justice, and community development. Most recently, she worked as a Director of the Child and Youth Wellbeing Program and Lead Coordinator on Pandemic Response for Marten Falls. Anna Betty is an Ex-Officio with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Board. She has served on various boards and advisory groups over the years, including the Indigenous Justice Advisory Group with the Ministry of Attorney General, and the Board of Directors of the Matawa First Nations Management. Anna Betty’s life work and contributions are driven by a passion to help the most marginalized people, especially the people in Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory and in the community she resides. In whatever she does, she advocates for equitable access to justice and other services, and for improving the quality of life, community wellness and safety for all NAN citizens.

Anna Betty is the Ontario representative on the Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council, Indigenous Women’s Advisory Council and Chair of the First Nations Women’s Caucus. She also represents Matawa Tribal Council on the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service Board of Directors.

Anna Betty currently resides in Thunder Bay. She credits her six children, five grandchildren and her first great-granddaughter as the inspirations for her lifelong work, service, and advocacy.

Women’s Initiatives

Health Policy and Advocacy

• Health Transformation Project
• Mental Health & Addictions
• Dialysis
• Emergency Medical Services
• Public Health
• Health State of Emergency in NAN Territory

Early Years

• Infant Mental Health
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Barriers to Government Issued ID
• Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care

Education

• Education Jurisdiction
• 7 Youth Inquest
• Boarding Home Advocacy

Bobby Narcisse is an Ojibway from the Aroland First Nation located in Treaty 9 territory. He studied political studies/Law at Lakehead University and had an internship at the Native Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. He has served a term as band councillor for the Aroland First Nation. He has served as Director of Social Services at Nishnawbe Aski Nation going into nine years. As Director, Bobby oversaw social services reform, child and family services and family well being. During that time, he was the lead on NAN’s intervener status at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, where the federal government was found guilty of racially discriminating against First Nation children by not providing adequate funding for child and family services on-reserve, and the failure to implement Jordan’s Principle.

Bobby has extensively worked in community social service and the education field for the past 20 years. He has led youth leadership teams to many First Nation communities conducting youth and family-oriented programs. Bobby has led international community development teams to Venezuela, Bolivia and worked with the Māori people in New Zealand. Bobby continues to volunteer as a mentor with the Regional Multicultural Youth Council.

Bobby has worked as an Education Counsellor for First Nation youth at Thunder Bay High schools. He later headed the athletic and recreation department at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High Schools coaching various sports teams and leading land-based wilderness education excursions for the students.

Bobby has a certificate in arts administration through the centre of indigenous theatre where he has acted in plays, theatre, and has taught students in the performing arts. He has worked in schools with students using Forum Theatre to look at and deal with social issues affecting youth. He is a professional singer and frequently performs at various community and social events.

Bobby enjoys spending time with his two daughters, friends and loved ones. He believes the best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.

Sustainable Initiatives

• Economic Development
  • Environment
  • Nuclear Waste

Community Wellness

• Crisis response
  • Men’s Healing Initiative
  • Training
  • Health Emergency Management

Social Services Strategic Advancement & Support/Implementation

• Jordan’s Principle
• Choose Life
• Family Well-Being
• Youth Initiatives
• Coordination Oversight and support for Compensation settlement

Mike Metatawabin is a member of Fort Albany First Nation in Treaty 9 territory. He is a Survivor of the notorious St. Anne’s Indian Residential School, which was located in his home community.

Over the past two decades he has taken on various leadership roles, including Chief of Fort Albany First Nation (1998-2006) and Deputy Grand Chief at Nishnawbe Aski Nation (2009 – 2012). He has also served with many Indigenous organizations including Five Nations Energy, Wawatay Native Communications Society, Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS), and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).

Mike has established solid relationships with government agencies ranging from the local to national level in his roles as president, chairperson, and board member of numerous regional organizations.

He is a longtime advocate for community issues including addiction, homelessness, housing, and child welfare. He was the Lead Commissioner of the Mushkegowuk People’s Inquiry on Suicide (2015-2016) and has been a powerful advocate for Mushkegowuk communities struggling with the opioid addiction crisis.

Mike’s dedication to his community and efforts to address the dark legacies of Canada’s colonial heritage have shaped his career as a respected leader and advocate for truth and reconciliation

He resides in Timmins with his wife Eva. They are the proud parents of four children and eight grandchildren.

Reclamation & Healing

Governance & Treaty Implementation

• Specific Claims Research & Support
• NAN Licensing and Fur Management Agreement
• Canada Ontario Resource Development Agreement

Housing & Infrastructure

• NAN Housing Project
• Remote Northern Airports
• Transport Canada Flight Duty Regulations
• Winter Roads
• Housing and Infrastructure Standards
• Water Projects
• Fire Safety
• Emergency Management
• Community Infrastructure
• Homelessness

Justice Research & Policy

• NAN-wide Justice Strategy
• Anti-racism
• UNDRIP
• Policing