Staff

TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS

About Us Team Staff

Staff

Treaty Commission staff come from a wide range of backgrounds and specialize in a number of areas. Click on the photos below to learn more about our team.

Mark Smith
General Counsel and Director of Process

Mark is General Counsel and Director of Process, he joined the Treaty Commission in 2001. Mark provides legal, political, and strategic policy advice on the protection and recognition of Aboriginal title and rights. Mark leads complex facilitations on treaty negotiations, and intergovernmental initiatives to improve the processes to achieve reconciliation amongst governments and Indigenous Nations. He is dedicated to Indigenous rights recognition, governance-building and inter-nation dispute resolution processes. Mark has been a key contributor to the Treaty Commission’s international work reinforcing the importance of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigneous Peoples to negotiations between state and Indigenous Nations.

A graduate from the University of Alberta Law School, Mark was called to Alberta Bar, and is currently a member of the Law Society in British Columbia. Mark has focused his career on Aboriginal law and First Nations issues. Mark previously was a sole-practitioner, and has practiced Aboriginal and environmental law with the firm of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He is completing a Master of Laws at the University of British Columbia focusing on First Nations legal issues. 

Tenisha Williams
Administration

Tenisha joined the Treaty Commission in 2011. In her role, Office Manager, she provides administrative management of office operations, implementing policies and procedures, and oversees organizational efficiencies and manages relationships with vendors and service providers. Tenisha also advises on human resources management and employee relations. 

Previously she worked for the Public Service Commission of Nova Scotia, Capital District Health Authority and ExxonMobil Canada in administration, human resources, and special projects.

Tenisha graduated from Eastern College with an advanced human resources management diploma excelling in compensation, benefits management, and employee relations. She is a member of the Chartered Professional in Human Resources Canada.

Sashia Leung
Director of Communications and International Relations

Sashia joined the Treaty Commission in September 2012. In her role, Director of Communications and International Relations, she manages the public information and education mandate of the Treaty Commission and is one of the leads for its international work to support the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Sashia works at the international level, including supporting Expert Members as well as advocating for the promotion and protecting of Indigenous rights and title through participation at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights and the Expert Mechanism on Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Since joining, she also facilitates treaty negotiations, manages forums and special projects including: First Nations governance initiatives, ratification processes, community engagement, and capacity-development. Sashia has over 15 years’ experience working with Indigenous communities in BC and is proud to be of mix heritage, Wet'suwet'en and Chinese from the community of Wiset, in northern interior BC.

She holds a BA in political science with a concentration on First Nations studies from the University of British Columbia. Sashia is a Banff Forum member, and alumna of the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference. She has served on a variety of boards and committees, and currently serves as Chair of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Board of Governors.

Angel Grenkie
Administration

Angel joined the Treaty Commission in May 2016. She is the welcoming face at the Treaty Commission, supporting the organization in her role as Receptionist. Previously she worked in hospitality as an assistant manager. Angel is a member of the Wet'suwet'en Nation. 

Stephanie Gustin
Process

Stephanie joined the Treaty Commission in November 2018. In her role, Research Analyst, she researches matters related to the treaty negotiations and rights recognition, facilitates negotiations, supports special projects, and assists with public education and information initiatives. Stephanie also maintains and coordinates the information and data managament, including access to information and privacy (ATIP) and archival requests.

Stephanie has worked as a research assistant for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence. She holds an MA in Dispute Resolution from the University of Victoria. Her thesis explored the use of mobile online dispute resolution tools and virtual mediation systems in government offices, and their impacts on relational aspects of dispute resolution. Her research has been published in the International Journal of Online Dispute Resolution.

Carmen Watson
Communications

Carmen joined the Treaty Commission as a Process Advisor in June 2019, and has since become a Communications Advisor. She supports communications through public information and education, and special projects, including forums and gatherings focusing on key topics of Indigenous rights recognition. Carmen also facilitates treaty negotiations and supports the Parties in making progress to conclude treaties. 

She has has a BA (Hons.) in History and International Relations, and is pursuing her MA in History at UBC, with an emphasis on Indigenous women's roles in defining the 20th century concepts of sovereignty. Some past research projects of hers include: the emergence of Chinese-Canadian identities during the BC gold rush era, Indigenous nationhood against the backdrop of the Quebecois separatist movement, and the relationship between Indigenous women, children, and the nation.

Carmen has co-hosted a podcast, and currently serves on the board of directors for a local theatre company, while also supporting bilingual diversity, equality and inclusion efforts. She has lived in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories, but now calls Vancouver home.

Staff
Danni Olusanya
Process

Danni joined the Treaty Commission in November 2021. In her role, Process Analyst, she researches matters related to the treaty negotiations and rights recognition and supports the Parties making progress in negotiations.

She holds a BA in History with a minor in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Justice from the University of British Columbia. She served as Co-President of the UBC Black Student Union and as Culture Editor for The Ubyssey, she was the first Black woman on the editorial board in the newspaper's 103-year history. Danni currently serves on the board of the Canadian Youth Journalism Project.

Staff
Dean Seskin
Process

Dean joined the Treaty Commission in April, 2022. In his role, Process Analyst, he researches matters related to the treaty negotiations and rights recognition and supports the Parties making progress in negotiations.

He holds a BA in Political Science with a minor in Economics from the University of Victoria. He is a recipient of the Vancouver Police Board’s Award for Merit for his actions to quell violence during the 2011 Stanley Cup Riot. Dean was also a volunteer member of the Juan De Fuca Ground Search and Rescue Team.

Staff
Communications
Communications

Please send communications inquiries to communications@bctreaty.ca

 

Staff
Carmen Lee
Funding

Carmen joined the Treaty Commission in November 2021. In her role, Funding Analyst, she support the funding mandate of the Treaty Commission, which supports First Nations with Negotiation Support Funding.

Staff
Vincent Leung
Funding

Vincent joined the Treaty Commission in March 2022 as Funding Analyst.

In his role, he supports the funding mandate of the Treaty Commission by executing and monitoring compliance of First Nations Negotiations Support Funding Agreements. 

Staff
Lindy Provost
Funding

Lindy Provost joined the Treaty Commission in April 2019.  In her role, Funding Assistant, she provide support to the Funding Analyst and Director of Funding for all execution and monitoring of the First Nation Negotiations Support funding agreements. Previously she worked in public service at the provincial and federal levels and has experience in the agricultural sector with overseas exportation.

Lindy is a member of the Piikani Nation in Southern Alberta which is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy and a proud mother of two. She holds a general studies diploma with sociology as the main focus of studies.

Address

700-1111 Melville Street
Vancouver BC
V6E 3V6
604 482 9200

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