Honorary patrons
Grand Chief Edward John
Chief Edward John was born in Tache Village,
BC, on July 8, 1949. Pursuing his parallel dreams of both higher education and
service to the First Nations communities, Chief John graduated from the University
of Victoria in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree - completing his Llb at the
University of British Columbia Law School in 1979. The early educational achievements
would be followed by an impressive career marked by both professional achievements
in the field of law, and dedication to the aboriginal peoples of BC.
Chief John served as the Executive Director of the Prince George Indian Friendship Center; he has since served as Chief and Councillor with Tl'Azt'En Nation (1975); as Representative to the Assembly of First Nations (1983-86); as Tribal Chief with the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (1984-88); and as Ukile ch'oh (hereditary chief) of the Lasilyoo clan Tl'atz'en Nation.
Chief John's devotion to learning can be witnessed through an intense commitment to the cause of aboriginal education. His efforts in the field have been tireless: Chief John has served as member of the Interior Governing Council of the University of Northern BC; as President of the Yinka Dene Language Institute: and as Committee Member for the Implementation Planning Group of Northern University, the Provincial Post-Secondary Education Native Advisory Committee for Native Learners, and the Provincial Education Policy Advisory Committee.
Chief John is currently the President of Teeslee Forest Products Ltd. and Tanizul Timber, and a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society; one of the three members of the First Nations Summit Task Group, and recently appointed as Chief Treaty Negotiator for the Carrier/Sekani Tribal Council.