Cyril (CJ) Bennett-Nabess
Manager
Years working on the Treaty Team: 6
Cyril is a member of Kitselas and a graduate of Northwest Community College’s Fine Art diploma program. He has worked with the Treaty Department for the last six years. Prior to that, he worked for Coast Mountain School District 82 in the First Nations Education Centre.
Zoe Bevan
Intern
Years working on the Treaty Team: 7
Zoe has worked with the Kitselas Treaty Office for a total of seven years, four years as a summer student and three years as an intern. She is a student who is currently working on her Bachelor’s Degree in the Arts program, first at the University of British Columbia and now at the University of Northern British Columbia.
Crystal Wright
Treaty Clerk
Years working on the Treaty Team: 1
Crystal has been a part of the Kitselas Treaty team for almost a year. Before joining the Treaty team, she worked for Kitselas in several Departments where she had many different roles.
Matilda Henry
Communications Officer
Years working on the Treaty Team: 1
Matilda has worked for Kitselas for seven years in the Lands & Resource Department as the Receptionist. Recently, she moved into the position of Communications Officer. Matilda has her Administrative Certificate from Coast Mountain College and a Certificate in Business Skills from TRU.
Joan Mason
Treaty Engagement Coordinator
Years working on the Treaty Team: 6
Joan has worked in many Kitselas Departments in a variety of roles and also worked as an Administrative Assistant for UNBC Terrace Campus. From 2012 until 2017, Joan was the Treaty Receptionist, then Community Engagement Coordinator. In 2021, Joan returned to the Treaty Department to the role of Community Engagement Coordinator.
Mel Bevan
Chief Treaty Negotiator
Years working on the Treaty Team: Mel has been working on the Kitselas Treaty since 1994!
Mel Bevan is the Kitselas Chief Treaty Negotiator. As part of Mel’s long, storied career fighting for Indigenous rights in Canada, he founded Northern Native Broadcasting Terrace, multiple law societies in BC, and the National Centre for First Nations Governance. Mel Bevan also wrote and published Silent Voices: Rule by Policy on Canada’s Indian Reserves. Mel Bevan is a recipient of the Governor General’s Award for community service.
David Try, PhD
Senior Treaty Negotiator / Director Treaty
Years working on the Treaty Team: 3
David has almost 50 years of work experience, primarily with the federal and provincial governments. This knowledge of government, combined with his experience in face-to-face negotiations, is very useful when negotiating a treaty.
