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The Westbank First Nation Local Government consists of one Chief and four Councillors who govern under the Westbank First Nation Constitution. Council members serve a three-year term of office. The current term is 2019-2022.
Chief Derickson has been involved in his community for the past 20 years working with youth, serving on boards and commissions and brings 7 years of Council experience prior to being elected Chief in 2019.
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He is also a founding Partner of Alderhill Planning Inc. where he worked on business development and operations, and with Indigenous communities and organizations from across Canada. He is also a regular speaker at conferences and workshops on the topic of Indigenous planning, governance, and economic development. Aside from his professional commitments Chris is also an active board member having served as Secretary and Treasurer on the All Nations Trust Company Board of Directors and was an inaugural member of the Premiers Selection Committee for the BC Medal of Good Citizenship. He is currently serving his second term as the Chair of the Okanagan College Board of Governors. Chris is also on faculty at the University of Arizona Native Nations Institute and the Banff Centre and is a lecturer at SFU’s Beedie School of Business. Chris holds a Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Political Sciences from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. He is also the recipient of several academic awards and a recipient of the Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 award.
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Councillor Alexander is the daughter of Alfred and Marilyn Alexander, and the granddaughter of the late Laura Alexander and Dave Flett, and maternal granddaughter of Eustine Jack of the Ulkatcho Nation.
Her partner is community member Kyle Allen and her step-daughter is JJ Allen. Andrea has been elected for her first term for 2019-2022. This is Andrea’s first term as a member of Council following working with Council in the capacity of Executive Assistant to Council through two previous Council terms (2015-2019). Working throughout different departments within WFN, such as Inter-Governmental Affairs, Development Services, and Administration, Andrea has had the opportunity to gain a vast amount of knowledge and experience concerning WFN Government operations. Andrea has served on the Community Consultative Group and the Syilx Indian Residential School for the past 4 years where she has found her passion for the health of the community as a whole and community building. She brings along education from her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Indigenous Studies to the role and is in the process of completing her Certificate of Indigenous Leadership, Governance, and Management Excellence through the Banff Centre. Andrea looks forward to working collaboratively with her fellow members of Council to continue to build and improve upon WFN governance and for the benefit of WFN Membership as a whole.
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Councillor Alexander was first elected to council in 2016. She is the daughter of Eileen Alexander and the granddaughter of Laura Alexander and Charlie Swite.
Councillor Fernanda Alexander was first elected as a Westbank First Nation Councillor on September 15, 2016 to serve during the 2016-2019 term. Fernanda is the daughter of Eileen Alexander and the granddaughter of Laura Alexander and Charlie Swite. She is a mother of four children, Raven, Juliana, Kortney and Ryder. Fernanda has resided within the community and the heart of Westbank since 2003 to experience life and growth through our Syilx roots, culture, community and our Nation as it is an important part of life and growth. Fernanda believes that every individual’s strength is valued and can contribute to creating a strong balanced circle and community that can continue to pursue our strength as a Nation.
way̓ pisnqsílxʷ. incáʔ iskʷist c̓ris. isk̓ʷuy̓ Barb Coble naʔł inlʔíw Rick Sagayadan iʔ skʷists. iłqaqcáʔ James naʔł iłsísn̓caʔ Brooks.
istm̓tímaʔ tuwi Katherine Louie iʔ skʷists naʔł inkikʷaʔ tuwi Paul Coble. intatúpaʔ tuwi lala (Martina San Pierre) naʔł tuwi Gaston Louie tl̓ n̓kmplqs. naʔł isʕawsəs tuwi um̓tiw̓s, tuwi n̓kʷalaʔ, naʔł tuwi pl̓kmúlaʔxʷ. Jordan is married to Chelsea Coble and is the proud father of Keyara, Hadley and Nyelle. He was one of the original attendees of what was then, the Westbank Indian Band school, now Sensisyusten, attended high school at MBSS and earned is degree from UBCO. Jordan also graduated from the 4 year adult immersion language program at the Syilx Language House while continuing to help grow the Sncewips Heritage Museum into the influential centre it has come to be recognized as today. As Jordan believes in the power of collaboration and the spirit of working together, he sits on various boards including the BCMA, ICHAC, UBCO IEAB, and he can also remember what most of these acronyms stand for. Moving forward requires a balanced approach towards development and progression. We as a sqilxʷ need to set the example in creating a healthy environment that utilizes each other’s gifts in a good way so that our future generations will have the opportunity to thrive. We can continue to be leaders and provide for our community but we must never forget our core values of respect for all, sustainability and reciprocity. Way̓ limləm̓t
Councillor Hogaboam was first elected in 2010, finishing her term in 2013. She is the daughter of the late Marie Wilson and Hugh Money and the granddaughter of Julia and William Wilson and Constance Money and Arthor Money.
She has two children Jonathon and Lee’al and two little grandchildren Torian & Oliver. Her siblings are Janice, Steven, late Stanley Money and late Robert Money. Lorrie has resided within the WFN Community in the early 70’s returning in 1992 where she raised her 2 children. She is a firm believer of children obtaining their education and she believes there isn’t a mountain that you can’t climb. Lorrie continues to be involved within the Community and was employed with WFN for over 16+ years, she values and is proud of her community, her culture, her roots and as a Sylix person. She believes in progression of the Community, accountability to her people while presenting and exhibiting honesty, integrity and respect.
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