Councillor Mike De Guevara (Sen'klip')

Councillor Mike DeGuevara represents his community with respect, pride and hard work. This has been evident over the eight years he has served on council and remains true with the Membership as he moves forward for the 2010 to 2013 term.

Mike is the son of Reba Derrickson and the grandson of Bill Derrickson. Mike has resided on the Westbank Reserve for over 34 years. He and his wife Joanne, the principal of Sensisyusten School, have two children.

BOARDS/COMMITTEES

WFN COUNCIL COMMITTEES

• Finance Committee (chair)
• Inter-Governmental Affairs/Title & Rights Committee (chair)

INTERNAL COMMITTEES WITH WFN REPRESENTATION

• Allotment Commission (alternate )
• Board of Variance (alternate)

EXTERNAL COMMITTEES WITH WFN COUNCIL REPRESENTATION

• Okanagan Nation Alliance Natural Resources Committee
• Okanagan Nation Alliance Constitutional/Caretaker Issues Working Group
• Public Safety Canada's First Nations Policing Program Comprehensive Review Stakeholder Panel
• Regional District of Central Okanagan Regional Board (alternate)
• Lands Advisory Board (alternate)
• Chiefs' Executive Council (alternate)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Asserted direct action by harvesting timber within traditional territories which resulted in the acquisition of the Community Forest License
• Chaired the Direct Action Committee on behalf of the Chief Negotiators and the Nanaimo Unity Protocol in BC
• Assisted in the negotiations for increasing the reserve land base by 2,600 acres
• Participated in the Self-Government Agreement (SGA) negotiations
• Assisted in developing policies to enhance the quality of life and opportunities for Elders and Youth (i.e. Elders’ Emergency Housing Repairs and Recreation Funding policies)
• Increased funding for post-secondary education programs
• Created employment opportunities with WFN-based training initiatives

GOALS

• Improve the quality of life of WFN Members
• Continue to work on improving government to government relationships
• Strive to move forward on issues to reconcile third party interests and the alienation of Crown Lands within the Westbank First Nation administrative area
• ONA Caretaker Areas are being established to provide each band the independence and responsibility to handle their own resources
• Getting the tools in place for the development of community housing on WFN lands including the Gallagher Canyon Lands

Councillor Mike De Guevera

201 - 515 Highway 97 South
Kelowna B.C. V1Y 3J2

T 250 769 4999
F 250 7694377
mdeguevara@wfn.ca