The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is made up of Aboriginal representatives on Vancouver Island and who hold the holistic vision. This vision is to improve living conditions for Aboriginal people while encouraging and reinforcing traditional practices and cultural beliefs. To provide the social and emotional support that some families need in making the transition to urban living and to build well designed housing sites that promote community spirit. This vision includes hiring and training as many staff of Aboriginal ancestry as possible to provide necessary services to the tenants, and to manage and maintain the sites. With this original vision in mind, M'akola has expanded to include and welcome non-Aboriginal families as well. The Board of Directors consists of 6 elected members, 4 members appointed from the Friendship Centres on Vancouver Island and one elder.

M’akola Group of Societies Board of Directors:

Bruce Parisian, President
Bruce has been on the M’akola Board of Directors for a number of years and presently serves as President and is the Executive Director of the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.

He has worked with Aboriginal Friendship Centres as an employee of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres for nearly five years beginning in 1998. He worked with many Friendship Centres throughout BC and in Quebec for three years before returning to the BCAAFC in 2006 as a program administrator supporting Aboriginal non-profits access program grants.

David Seymour, Vice President
David has been on the M’akola Board of Directors since its original incorporation in 1984. David has serves as the Vice President and spends his days working with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Bruce Underwood
Bruce has been on the M'akola Board of Directors since 2007 and is an elected Chief of Pauquachin First Nation.

Kolette Cristante, Secretary
Kolette has been a Director for many years and currently servers as Secretary as well as a member of the Tenant Advisory Committee. Kolette was once an employee of M’akola and now works as a First Nations District Counselor with Victoria School District #61.

Nella Nelson
Nella has been with the M’akola Board of Directors since 1986. Nella is the Coordinator of First Nations Education for the Greater Victoria School District #61.

Carl Mashon, Treasurer
Carl is the community representative on the Board of Directors appointed from the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Carl works at the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres.

Cyndi Stevens
Cyndi is the community representative on the Board of Directors from the Port Alberni Friendship Centre where she is the Executive Director.

Debbie Williams
Debbie is the community representative on the Board of Directors from the Hiiye’yu Lelum House of Friendship where she is the Executive Director.

Grace Nielsen
Grace is the community representative on the Board of Directors from the Tillicum Haus Native Friendship Centre where she is the Executive Director.

Tom Finnie
Tom is the community representative on the Board of Directors from the Wachaiy Friendship Center where he also serves as a Board of Director.

George Cook
George Cook is an honorary member of the Board and serves as our Elder Advisor. George has lived in Victoria for the past 24 years and is originally from the N'amgis Nation. He has been married for 49 years and is the father of 7 children. He is very active working as an elder with the Tsowtunlelum Treatment Center and the Tsowkwaluten Healing Lodge. He is also the elder advisor for the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centers.

M'akola Group of Societies would like to Honor

Judy Bourne
Judy Jerome Bourne was born on Valentine’s Day, 1940, in Saskatchewan of Cree ancestry. She was a devoted wife and mother of six children. Judy was well known for her athletic and coaching abilities, particularly as a volleyball coach of national and international recognition. She was an outstanding educator and taught for many years in a variety of subjects and grade levels. From 1984 – 1989 she was the Executive Director of M’akola Housing Society and under her guidance the Society became a model for many housing projects across Canada. Judy died on December 30, 1989 in Victoria.