Directors
John Bekale - Chairman
John Bekale represents the Tlicho Government on the Board of Directors. He has been a director of Denendeh Development Corporation since 1994 and became Chairman and CEO in 1997. He is also Chair of the Board of DII. John was born in Port Radium and moved to Rae-Edzo (now Behchoko) in 1969. He served as Chief of Rae Lakes (now Gameti) in 1981-82. Over his career he has worked with the Dene Nation, the GNWT, Dogrib Treaty 11 Tribal Council and BHP Billiton Diamond Mine. John lives in Yellowknife.
James Firth - Vice-Chairman
James Firth represents the Gwich’in tribal council on the Board. He is a former Chief of the Tetlit Gwich’in Band and he lives in Inuvik.
Greg Nyuli - Secretary Treasurer
Greg Nyuli is a member of the Deh Gah Got’ie First Nations and represents the Dehcho First Nations. He is former Chief of the Fort Providence Band and lives in Fort Providence. Greg is President of Shehtah Drilling Ltd.
Jim Schaefer - Director
Jim Schaefer is a former Chief of the Salt River First Nation. Jim represents the Akaitcho First Nations on the Board. He is a resident of Fort Smith.
Raymond Taniton - Director
Raymond Taniton is a former Chief of the Deline Dene Band. He is also the former President of the Deline Land Corporation. He is a resident of Deline and represents the Sahtu First Nations.
Calvin Helin - Director
Calvin Helin is an Aboriginal lawyer from the Tsimshian Nation on BC’s north coast. He is the founding President of the Native Investment and Trade Association and founding Vice President of the National Aboriginal Business Association. He is the author of Dances with Dependency: Indigenous Success through Self-Reliance published in 2006. Calvin Helin lives in Vancouver, BC.
Ron Jamieson - Director
Ron Jamieson is member of the Mohawk Nation from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. A former Senior Vice President Aboriginal Banking with the Bank of Montreal he also a member of the Conference Board of Canada’s Council on the Corporate Management of Aboriginal Affairs and was a member of the Economic Task Force advising former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Mathew Coon Come. Ron Jamieson lives in Oshweken, Ontario.
Chief Clarence Louie - Director
Chief Louie has served as Chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band since 1985. He led the Band through a period of economic development that has resulted in the creation of a multi-faceted corporation that owns eight businesses. One of the Band’s largest projects is an eco-tourism resort, campground, RV park and marina that includesa120-room full service hotel and gas bar. Chief Louie is popular motivational speaker across Canada.
Blake Lyons - Director
Blake Lyons was the longest serving member of the Yellowknife City Council winning seven elections between 1987 and 2006. He previously served as President of the NWT Association of Municipalities and was Chair of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Municipal-Aboriginal Relations Committee. He is also a former Executive Director of the NWT Teachers Association and the Nunavut Teachers Association. He lives in Yellowknife.
Dave Tuccaro - Director
Dave Tuccaro is a member of the Mikisew Cree Band in Alberta. He heads his own company providing diverse heavy equipment, construction, mining and related services in the Alberta oil sands area and throughout northern Alberta. Dave founded the Northeastern (Alberta) Aboriginal Business Association. He was also a member of the National Task Force on Oil Sands Strategies, the National Aboriginal Financing Task Force and served as Chair of the Aboriginal Business Canada Market Expansion Group. He lives in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
