Angeline Gillis, BA, LLB is a proud Mi’kmaw woman and member of Eskasoni First Nation. Growing up outside her community in East Bay Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Angie grew up surrounded by her family and her culture. She remains grateful as her unique upbringing gave her the strength and ingenuity to pursue her education. She is an alumni of Dalhousie University, and obtained her LL.B from Schulich School of Law and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar Society in June 2010.

Angeline is a practicing lawyer and has worked with The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) since October 2011. In 2013, she became the Director of Environment and Natural Resources after successfully establishing several environmental programs for CMM’s Member Communities.

In 2022, Angeline became The CMM’s Executive Director. Making her the first woman to hold this position in the organization’s history, and the largest tribal council in the east. Within this role she provides oversight and guidance to all The CMM’s departments, over 180 staff members, numerous files, projects, and services offered to eight (8) M’ikmaw communities in Mainland Nova Scotia.

Angeline’s career has been primarily focused on the inclusion of traditional knowledge and modern science. She is passionate and unrelenting in creating real, measurable progress in the priorities that matter most to her organization’s communities.

Angeline sits as an advisor for the Assembly of Nova Scotia Chiefs’, Dalhousie’s Board of Governors, Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management External Advisory Board, the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR) Board of Directors, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Board of Directors, Natural Resource Canada’s Departmental Audit Committee, and the Indigenous Centre of Cumulative Effects Management Board of Directors.

Danny joined The CMM in 2019 as Human Resources Manager. A dedicated human resources practitioner, Danny has experience working in fast-paced environments including health, non-profit, post-education, and hospitality sectors. His true strength lies in providing support and advice to operational managers as well as staff from the front lines to executive levels.

Whether it is recruitment, onboarding new employees, training and development, labour relations, or benefits administration, Danny accepts the challenges of today’s complex workplaces. Assisting with the development of an organizational culture that nurtures all staff is a skill set he has demonstrated and honed over the past few years.

Danny also recognizes that well-timed strategic advice, mediating of disputes, and a welcoming open-door policy are all important characteristics of a successful Human Resource Practitioner.

He is mindful that an HR professional can be key to enhancing awareness of company initiatives outside of the organization by helping to build bridges with the communities who are served externally as well as internally.

Having travelled and worked in numerous locales nationally and internationally (most recently in Osoyoos, British Columbia; Wellington, New Zealand; and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands), Danny is pleased to have returned home to Nova Scotia to work with The CMM and the communities we serve.

Executive Director of The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq for the past 28 years, Dr. Julien is also a Mi’kmaw historian and human rights advocate. With over 40 years researching and documenting Mi’kmaw history, Donald shares his knowledge and experiences through speaking engagements, university lectures and research papers. Donald is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia, which were granted for his work promoting Mi’kmaw history, language and culture. He has also been awarded two honorary degrees from Acadia University and Mount Saint Vincent University.

Donald is a peace time veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces and has served in the United Nations on a peacekeeping tour in Cyprus. He continues work with the Canadian Armed forces in a community advisory role for the RCMP Aboriginal Advisory Group, as well as the Auditor General on Aboriginal matters. He sits on the Advisory Board for Admiral of the Canadian Navy, and he was appointed Honorary Lt. Colonel in 2011. Donald and his wife Diane live in Truro, proud parents of four children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Donald Julien is the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.

Jacklyn Paul (she/her) is a proud Mi’kmaw woman from Sipekne’katik First Nation. Jacklyn is a descendant of the Shubenacadie Residential School, where not only her mother and many uncles and aunts, but also her grandmother were all enrolled. "Being part of that legacy is not just a personal story; it shapes the way I approach my work."

Jacklyn’s educational background is also rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing. Holding a Bachelor of Arts from Cape Breton University with a major in Indigenous Studies. Jacklyn also holds a Bachelor of Social Work from St. Thomas University, and her Master’s in Social Work from University of Victoria.

"I’ve spent years working directly with individuals, families, and organizations to navigate the impacts of intergenerational trauma and systemic barriers. But my passion extends beyond frontline work. I believe true healing and reconciliation happen when systems change."

Jacklyn takes the most pride in being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Alongside her husband, she has raised their daughters and now supports her grandchildren in a home grounded in Mi’kmaw principles, values, and teachings.

She is honoured to join CMM, as this new role provides her with another opportunity to continue advocating for the well-being of our communities. She looks forward to helping build systems that truly reflect the needs of the Mi’kmaq, as she looks forward to the work ahead.

James ‘Jim’ Hepworth

James is a Director with more than 27 years of experience working with The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Human Resource Management Certificate from Saint Mary’s University, with a depth of experience and skill in financial planning, business analysis, marketing, team management, written and verbal communication, professionalism, leadership and negotiation.

Over the years, James has held multiple senior positions with The CMM, including Director of Community Programs and Corporate Services.

His experience has provided him insight into effective community engagement, planning knowledge of Mi’kmaq organizational structure and operations and expertise in a range of fields build around serving Mi’kmaw Communities.

James currently is the CEO of Business Development and Social Enterprises, The CMM’s business development arm.

During his tenure as CEO, James has helped grow the business side of The CMM by overseeing the construction of the new CMM offices in Millbrook.

He provides advisory services to several CMM internal projects, ranging from the construction and installation of artificial reef balls in a Coastal Restoration project, expertise in planning and development of the Sespite’tmnej Kmitkinu Conservancy, a charitable land trust, assistance in business and operations of the Mi’kmawey Forestry Initiative, among others.

James has expanded The CMM’s operational capacity and streamlined its effectiveness as an organization.

Presently, his role entails management of the business operations of Woodland Print Communications Company, the CMM’s publishing enterprise, and its flagship newsprint publication, Mi’kmaw Maliseet Nation News.

The newest addition to Business Development and Social Enterprises’ portfolio is an intensified focus on social enterprise development – this includes the reinitiation of Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledges Studies, and other services, like environmental monitoring.

Business Development and Social Enterprises has recently launched a new joint venture with Office Interiors, a leading Atlantic Canadian retailer of office furniture and technology.

James is a member of the Economic Development Committee with the Tripartite Forum; the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers and the Board of Directors for the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.

Justin is a member of Millbrook First Nation. Although he grew up off-reserve, he has been active in his community for most of his life.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Acadia University. He also attended Dalhousie’s Maritime School of Social Work Certificate program for Counselling Skills and finished his education path with a Certificate in Human Resources Management Psychology from Saint Mary’s University.

Justin began his career during university, working as a summer student at The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, where he conducted historical research for a variety of projects.

Following his education, Justin was hired by Millbrook First Nation to work at Treaty Enterprises as Human Resources Coordinator. His 13 years in this position provided experience in many aspects of Human Resources Management, including but not limited to: policy development, recruitment and selection, disciplinary action processes, mediation between staff and management, occupational health and safety, etc.

In 2019, Justin returned to The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq in the role of Human Resources Outreach Coordinator. This position allowed him to become familiar with all eight Mainland Mi’kmaq communities and provide support in all areas of Human Resources capacity development. In 2023, Justin became the Director of Finance & Administration.

Tim Bernard is well known beyond his own community of Millbrook as the Manager/Editor of the Mi’kmaq Maliseet Nations News and Eastern Woodland Print Communications. Employed by The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) as a Land Claims Researcher from 1988 to 1994, he gained extensive historical knowledge under the direction of Dr. Donald Julien. He now brings his management expertise to The CMM as the Director of History and Culture, and to the development of the Mi’kmawey Debert project.

Tim is the Mi’kmaw co-chair of the Culture and History working committee of the Tripartite Forum as well as a member of the History Month and Treaty Day committees. Through these and other avenues, Tim’s direction affects communities across Nova Scotia. He has set forth and achieved realistic and meaningful outcomes through these avenues, advancing knowledge and appreciation for place names, language growth and retention, cultural resources for educators and the importance of the stories of Elders and others in the communities.

He has served on the task force of the Nova Scotia Heritage Strategy and is regularly involved with overall heritage and tourism sector development. Tim Bernard is a member of the Board of Directors for the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.

Trina is a Mi’kmaq woman and community member of the We’koqma’q First Nation. She is the proud daughter of the Late Keptin Alexander Joseph Michael and Mary Arlene Michael of We’koqma’q. Trina grew up in her home community her entire childhood until she moved to Fredericton NB to attend the University of New Brunswick to obtain her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. She finished her degree in May 2000 and moved to Halifax to start her family and career.

Trina has extensive experience working in the Atlantic First Nation Communities in several capacities. She worked at Healing Our Nations as Program Manager for eight years, Capacity Development Advisor and Operations Officer at Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation in First Nation Housing for a total of 5 years, and most recently Housing and Infrastructure Policy Analyst at the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs Secretariat.

Trina started as Program Manager for the Community Infrastructure team with The Confederacy of Mainland Mikmaq in October 2019 and have since gained significant knowledge on the housing and infrastructure that our communities currently face. Trina is committed to working with our CMM member communities to co-develop strategies related to but not limited to housing and infrastructure, emergency measures, and solid waste management which are driven by our member communities.

Tyler is from the Membertou First Nation. During his youth, Tyler lived on the Sipeknek’katik First Nation, and considers both Membertou and Sipekne’katik his home Communities.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Saint Mary’s University and A Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Guelph. His graduate research was focused on identity-construction, cultural and authenticity, and decolonization.

Tyler previously worked for Membertou as their Communications Liaison as well as a number of student roles such as the Aboriginal Student Advisor, Graduate Student Teaching Assistant, as well as completing three consecutive internships with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Additionally, Tyler is the former Manager of Research and Analytics at Orenda Software Solutions, an artificial intelligence company that uses social media to measure public perception. Orenda was a regional winner in the Innovacorp I-3 start-up competition in 2015, and later accepted into the IBM Innovation Space, the FinTech Sandbox in Boston, and the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto. Tyler worked for the start-up for five years developing his knowledge of strategic planning, innovation, and taking on various projects related to machine-learning.

Tyler has also volunteered with Digital Mi’kmaq, a curriculum enrichment program designed to introduce and encourage Mi’kmaq students to pursue STEM programs in post-secondary education and related careers.

Wyatt White

Associate Executive Director, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq

Wyatt White is originally from the Mi’gmaq First Nation of Listuguj, Quebec but called Nova Scotia home for more than 20 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) degree from Acadia University and a Master of Education from St. Francis Xavier University. Since joining the Nova Scotia public service in 2002, Wyatt’s career has spanned First Nations community development, intergovernmental relations, crown-Indigenous affairs, and for the past eight years, his attention had turned towards Indigenous education, coupled with his 15 plus-years of experience in facilitating public service training related to the Legal Duty to Consult, Indigenous Perceptions, Treaty Education and Reconciliation learning opportunities.

In the fall of 2021, Wyatt joined the faculty of L’nu, Political and Social Studies at Cape Breton University but after a term, realized his passion for teaching lies in helping to reshape the mindsets of public sector and not-for-profit employees, in our collective work of the indigenization and decolonization of organizations, and institutes through a lens of treaty education and reconciliation. Throughout his career, sound public policy decision-making and relational leadership have been at the heart of his career pursuits.

Wyatt was an active member of the Tripartite Forum from 2002 to 2015, as well as former board member for United Way Halifax.

In September 2022, Wyatt was thrilled to join The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaw as the Associate Executive Director. He is a proud dog-dad to a puppy named Mabel who keeps him on his toes and is an avid curler when the weather turns cooler. Wyatt is always proud to continue calling Mi’kma’ki, our traditional and unceded territory, home.