Phyllis Seymour 

Born in Saik’uz, Phyllis is a matriarch of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation. She has been a water guardian and protector for the Nation for seven years. It is thanks to her dedication to community health that the water is monitored and cared for. As the water technician, she carries out manual weekly tests, reporting directly to FNHA, and maintains records of all chemical and bacteria levels. A Grandmother, Sister, Auntie and Mother - when asked of the importance of water in Lheidli she replies, “Water is Life.”

Zawad Abedin

Zawad Abedin is the Senior Manager at Lheidli T’enneh Nation, where he manages the Capital Projects and Asset Management Department. He is responsible for leading a diverse portfolio of capital projects and overseeing the asset management program of the nation.

Zawad holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Northern British Columbia. He also has a Bachelor’s and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and is a registered engineering professional with Engineers and Geoscientists of BC. Additionally, Zawad is a certified asset management professional by IPWEA.

Jason Pierreroy

Ronald Jason Pierreroy is the maintenance technician for Lheidli T’enneh Nation. He provides overall maintenance support for the band’s assets. He completed his first-year carpentry and level 03 culinary arts in basic, advanced, and specialty in post-secondary. Prior to LTFN, he has the wealth of experience of overall 33 years in a wide variety of places such as a sawmill, commercial kitchen, residential construction, office furniture, and equipment providers.

Jason is a proud LTFN member and he was born, raised, and lived his whole life in Lheidli. He is happily married and the father of one child. He is fond of outdoor and sports activities.

Keilani Rose

Born and raised in Lheidli lands, along her matrilineal roots, she belongs to the Lheidli T’enneh nation, holding intersectional Indigeneity as Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawai’ian) diaspora. An artist and advocate for Indigenous rights and sovereignty, her personal quest for reclamation has led to the greater mission for collective reclamation. Helping to bring clean water to her community is helping to bring home vitality, truth, and justice for her people.

“It is the legacy of my ancestors - the courage of Polynesian wayfinders and the heart of Dakelh healers, that lead me on my path.” 

Lynn Pöppelmann

I was born and raised in Germany and have been living on the territory of the Lheidli T'enneh for just over a year now. I'm a second-year conservation sciences student and have been enjoying learning about First Nations cultures and practices as conservation efforts around the world thrive when Indigenous Peoples are involved. In my spare time I enjoy birdwatching, hiking, kayaking and camping. Spending time in nature and especially near any body of water makes me happy, which may be one of the reasons why I was drawn to the project.

Hannah Loukes

My name is Hannah Loukes I am grateful to live on the territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and to be able to share information regarding the Lheidli Too movement. I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Public Administration and Community Development with a minor in First Nations Studies and a Specialization in First Nations Community Development. After my Undergraduate Degree, I have a career goal of wanting to work with Indigenous Communities and Peoples. Some of the hobbies and things I am passionate about include basketball, art and being outside. I am honoured to be able to help the movement of Lheidli Too.

Thane Greydanus

I am currently a student at UNBC studying Environmental Planning. I was born and raised on the Territory of the Lheidli T’enneh. I wanted to help with this project because I believe it will improve lives.

Kayla McNeil

Hey! My name is Kayla McNeil, and I am a first-year student at the University of Northern British Columbia in the Nature-Based Tourism Management program. I am originally from the

territory of the Haida Nation on Haida Gwaii and I live in the small town of Sandspit. I had the opportunity to take Dr. Sinead Earley's class on environmental citizenship which introduced me to a project I never thought would follow me into the future. This project is so important to me because I come from the water, and it has become a part of my identity. I took a boat to school every day. My hobbies occur on the ocean, and I could never imagine my life without water. Twenty years ago, the United Nations recognized water as a right and that every human should have access to safe, accessible, and affordable drinking water. Twenty years later Canada has not made this a priority, twenty years later people are still being denied this human right. Water is a way of life, and we often forget that the water cycle and our life cycle are intertwined.    

Dr. Sinead Earley

I work at the intersection of environment and policy, primarily in the Canadian context. My research interests integrate the social and physical sciences, taking a critical approach to resource management, climate change, environmental policy, and (neo)colonial systems of governance. Teaching interests parallel my research activities, and in the classroom I stress the importance of publicly engaged education and experiential/service learning.

My approach is highly interdisciplinary, integrating ideas from the fields of critical resource geography, environmental justice, political ecology, and postcolonial studies. In general, I aim to contribute to critical and timely scholarship that fosters socially just economies, progressive environmental policies, and practical solutions in a low-carbon society. I grew up in the Interior of British Columbia at the ‘meeting of the waters’ (T’Kemlúps/Kamloops) and my approach to environment and sustainability starts with self-acknowledgement as a settler-ally from Secwépemc territory.

Dr. Theresa Healy

Dr. Theresa Healy has lived and worked in Northern BC since 1994 holding a variety of appointments at UNBC since her arrival. She has a wide range of experiences with community engagement and community-based research related to healthy community development. She considers herself fortunate to have worked with many skilled and generous teachers who are passionate about change and increasing community well-being. In particular, she has been honoured to serve many First Nations communities and groups. The powerful changes that can emerge when communities lead the way are transformative.

Dr. June Garcia-Becerra

I have a background in chemical engineering (BEng and PhD) and biotechnology (MBiotech), with an emphasis on ecological engineering. My current research lines include both engineering and inter/transdisciplinary projects. At UNBC, I lead the Water and Sanitation Holistic Technologies (WASH-T) research group, which aims to develop sustainable and resilience-building decentralized water and sanitation solutions.

In addition, I have industry experience in the municipal and biopharmaceutical sectors. I have collaborated on sustainable and resilient community-based urbanization projects, process design of municipal wastewater treatments, and asset management. I have also worked in the downstream purification of biopharmaceuticals.