Project Partner Profiles kluu laanas Economic Development Corporation The corporation is a Part 2 corporation under the Federal Corporations Act and is also registered to do business in British Columbia. It has a 4 person board of directors and a CEO; it was incorporated on 21st January 2003. The corporation is set up in such a way that it can never make substantial profits. Any substantial profits must be funneled back into the community through the direction of the Old Massett Village Council. Thus, if the corporation does well, the community benefits. Modest profits can be retained by the corporation to improve facilities, working conditions, board member compensation etc. Capacity building is a key priority of the corporation and so any work we do, we attempt to build in training components to increase the capacity of the Old Massett community members. The corporation was set up to “Administer the affairs of the kluu laanas development and to increase employment in all sectors of the economy including tourism, community development and promotion, forestry and environmental protection.” Haida Environmental is a division of the kluu laanas Community Development Corporation and its mission is: Providing environmental related services of high quality and value from a business ethic, grounded in the unique Haida cultural values with the land and sea. He is committed to ethical and objective work guided by respect. As an Old Massett Haida owned company, key priorities are to provide training, employment and capacity building within our communities. We have a ‘Teaming Services Agreement’ with Golder Associates Ltd. to provide us with the Technical and Professional support wherever needed on any of our projects. Golder Associates Ltd. can provide education credits to our employees to contribute to their education and capacity-building aspirations.
Council of the Haida Nation The Council of the Haida Nation formed in 1980 as the governing entity for the Haida Nation. The Council’s mandate is to protect and assert Aboriginal Title and the collective rights of the people. Since its inception, the CHN has been successful in securing protection for some areas of the Islands as well as pushing for more sustainable use of Island resources.
There are two CHN offices, one in Old Massett the other in Skidegate. "Our culture is born of respect, and intimacy with the land and sea and the air around us. Like the forests, the roots of our people are intertwined such that the greatest troubles cannot overcome us. We owe our existence to Haida Gwaii. The living generation accepts the responsibility to ensure that our heritage is passed on to following generations." -- from the Haida Constitution The elders, hereditary leaders, and elected representatives of Haida Gwaii are alarmed at the rate and extent of logging. In 1998, discussions among community members, elected officials and hereditary leaders about the state of the forests resulted in CHN taking steps to establish a Forest Guardian Program. The mission statement of the CHN Forest Guardians is: "To provide technical support to the Council of the Haida Nation in advocating CHN concerns for the land and to ensure that the forests and associated waters of Haida Gwaii are used in ways that respect the land and Haida rights and title."
As per Article 8, Sections 1, 3, and 6 of the Haida Constitution:
The Mandate of the Council of the Haida Nation is Haida Gwaii and surrounding waters.
CHN shall perpetuate Haida heritage and cultural identity, and will enact Policies for same.
CHN shall establish land and resource policies consistent with nature's ability to produce. The Policies will be applicable to all users of the Territories.
John Disney John is currently acting as Economic Development Officer for the Old Masset Village Council on Haida Gwaii. He is a dynamic, reliable economic development professional with 5 years experience building an economy and 25 years of business and contracting experience. John is imaginative and innovative with proven management skills in human, physical and financial resources. Significant profits and success have been achieved through effective use of these resources in achieving the maximum return possible. He is skilled at organizing complex projects, defining priorities and efficiently delegating tasks and is also a self-starting, goal oriented strategist whose confidence, perseverance and vision promote success. John excels at problem solving, multi tasking and leadership. During his tenure with the Old Masset Village Council, John developed, managed and monitored the following: Ø Departments: Hatchery, Parks, tourism development, forestry, forestry restoration, cultural (repatriation, heritage and cultural facilities development), Trucks, small business, lending circle and fisheries. Ø New corporate entities for facilities development, forestry and environmental assessment activities etc. Ø Relationships with government, business and industry. As a long-term resident of the islands, he was also self-employed as a Maintenance, electrical and Construction Contractor and Commercial Fisherman-owner operator of a fishing business.
Russ George Russ George has worked in science, especially environmental and energy science, for the past 30 years specializing in technology transfer of academic discoveries into practical applications.
He has worked as both a professional manager and businessman in both the United States and Canada and managed projects including large scale reforestation and land reclamation in the forestry and mining industry, development of ocean fisheries enhancement and aquaculture projects, and environmental management of major development projects including multi-billion dollar resource development projects in Northern Canada.
He has worked as a scientist in frontier energy physics and research in his own lab and as a visiting scientist in National Laboratories in the United States and Japan. He is often interviewed by the media on the future of energy and environment, and has given invited speeches to such organizations as the US Department of Defense (SecNav), NASA, Department of Energy, Electric Power Research Institute, Canadian Institute of Energy, Lockheed Martin, and General Atomics, as well as similar organizations in Japan and Europe.
Russ is also an award winning producer, writer, and director of films and television especially focusing on environmental topics in both the United States and Canada. He is an avid ocean sailor, explorer, naturalist, and long ago stood night watch for a time at the wheel of the late Rainbow Warrior.
Rebecca Buchanan Rebecca is currently the managing partner of Raincoast Carbon Restorations and has been involved in legal aspects and project management of climate change mitigation projects since 2002. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia, specializing in Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Natural Resources, First Nations and Administrative Law. Concurrently, she is managing the Haida Gwaii Climate Forest Pilot Project. Rebecca’s contributions to this project include her capacity to successfully negotiate and manage an ongoing, mutually beneficial partnership with the Haida Nation and the Provincial government, her ability to problem solve and manage all manner of complex project complications without breaking a sweat and her commitment and dedication not only to the project but to doing the project right. In addition to her forthcoming LLB, Rebecca has an honours BA in English Literature and Language from the University of British Columbia and has extensive experience wordsmithing, editing, and publishing, having garnered some awards along the way. Upon graduation, Rebecca will embark on the articling process with an aim to focussing her articles in and around the Haida Gwaii Climate Forest Project and any and all sister projects. In this, Rebecca hopes to be in the crucible when climate change and sustainable development norms crystallize into climate change and sustainable development law.
Erin Kendall Erin has been working in BC’s forest and environment industries for over 10 years on a wide range of projects. She has filled the roles of Project Manager, Crew Supervisor, Foreperson, Contract Coordinator, consultant, estimator, restoration technician, surveyor, treeplanter, brusher and cook. She is currently employed by the BC Conservation Foundation as Program Coordinator for the Ministry of Environment’s BC Conservation Corps (www.bcconservationcorps.ca) Erin has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning from the University of Northern BC and extensive project leadership experience in ecological restoration. She has a natural ability to effectively plan and implement all manner of field-based activities, as well as an excellent track record in managing complex client/contractor relationships.
Hubert Timmenga Hubert J. Timmenga, PhD., P.Ag., CAC – President, Timmenga & Associates Inc. Dr. Timmenga is a soil scientist, environmental practitioner and inventor, specializing in sustainable agriculture and beneficial use of organic waste, product and process development, and composting, creating solutions based on the convergence of planning, regulations, systems and technologies. An applied scientist and consultant since 1981, his project and research experience includes agricultural planning; research strategy;, environmental assessments; waste management feasibility studies; design, permitting and monitoring of composting facilities; technology reviews; development and assessment of technologies for manure handling on pig farms, dairy farms and poultry farms; beneficial reuse of organic and inorganic waste materials in agricultural production; preparation and review of guidelines and regulations in BC; and studies of environmental issues in agriculture, forestry and other land uses, including Greenhouse gas and carbon credit issues as well as 5 years of carbon modelling. He has worked on project s with clients in industry and government from across North America and internationally. Currently Dr. Timmenga is developing strategic plans for the bioproducts industry in BC, and for the use of alternative fuels in the greenhouse industry. As a Qualified Professional he is supervising the set up of two composting facilities. Dr. Timmenga is developing strategic partnerships across Canada and the US, and Latin America. He works closely with other consultants in the Canadian Consulting Agrologists' Association and forms and participates in independent project oriented working groups. As such, he has developed a working relationship with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the American Society for Agricultural Consultants (ASAC). He is an excellent report writer; able to present complex scientific knowledge in easy to read language. He has presented at scientific conferences, public meetings and as expert witness in Court. Dr. Timmenga has served on the BC Science Council Peer review Committee for Environmental Projects. Dr. Timmenga has a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of British Columbia and an M.Sc. in Environmental Science from Wageningen University.
Robert Millar
Robert Millar is a partner with Fasken Martineau and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1982. Robert has practised extensively in the area of commercial and creditor and debtor litigation, receiverships and foreclosures on behalf of lending institutions. Professional Activities: - Member, Banking, Insolvency and Civil Litigation Sections of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch
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