Who is the BRIRC?
Board of Directors
Chief Crystal Okemow
Lucky Man Cree Nation
Chief Donny Ironchild
Littlepine First Nation
Councillor Lance Myo
Moosomin First Nation
BRIRC Staff
Dana Martin
Director
Dana Martin has a background in land use planning and policy and in law. She was called to the Alberta Bar in 2016 and practiced Aboriginal law at two boutique law firms in Alberta prior to joining the Battle River IRC. Her role at the Battle River IRC is non-legal and includes industry and government research, drafting correspondence, securing funding and coordinating processes to improve internal governance and administrative capacity.
Jayneika Okemow-Bull
Office Adminstrator
Jayneika Okemow-Bull has a background in a broad spectrum of work. With a passion of working with Indigenous communities, she has come onto the BRIRC with a bright eye to learn. She has a background in education with 2+ years of work assisting young Indigenous students in schools prior to joining the Battle River IRC. She also coordinated medical taxis for urban Indigenous members of the Battlefords and Lucky Man Cree Nation. Her role in the Battle River IRC is coordinating events and admin work for the organization.
Bonnie Whitford Evans
Honourary Strategic Advisor
The BRIRC would like to recognize Bonnie Evans who is now in retirement, who has made an important impact in the BRIRC. She has 35+ years of experience working in Alberta’s oilsands for the provincial government, First Nations and Métis groups. Her expertise in the development of consultation processes, coordinating First Nations’ contributions to major regulatory hearings and strategic management of industry relations was an asset to the Battle River IRC in its first years. She is effective communicator, strategist and anti-racist activist, bringing years of policy analysis and process development experience to the table. Her unique communication style along with the corporate history and compassion make her invaluable in the development, design and implementation of engagement models aimed at meeting the needs of all parties.