Open house presentations:
Ksi Lisims LNG Project
November 20, 2023
Speakers:
Graeme Pole
Graeme has lived in the Kispiox Valley for more than 24 years, which probably makes him almost a “local.” When not mired in pipeline technical reports, Graemeenjoys leaving bootprints and taking photographs on remote ridges in the Kispiox Range, the Telkwa Range, and in the Babine Mountains.
Shannon McPhail
Shannon is a mother of two and the co-executive director of Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, an organization twice recognized as one of the top ten most effective and innovative organizations in Canada. A former recipient of the Northern BC Community Enrichment Award as well as the North American Conservation Leadership Award. An alumnus of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology where she was captain of the women’s basketball team while enrolled in Chemical Technology
and later completed her Welding apprenticeship and worked for Henuset Pipeline construction. She’s a certified whitewater rafting guide and successfully completed the Northwest Guide Outfitters training program at Coast Mountain College. She holds certificates in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University and Indigenous Tools for Living (ITFL).
Kai Nagata
Kai is a fifth-generation British Columbian, Kai lives on Gitxsan territory in Northern B.C. His last name translates roughly to “everlasting rice paddy,” which was probably a lot to hope for in feudal Japan. In his spare time he enjoys getting out on the land, growing and foraging local food, and cooking with family and friends. Early in his career Kai worked as a journalist for CBC, CTV and other outlets. After volunteering with the Dogwood Initiative, Kai joined the staff in 2014 as a campaigner. He’s been Communications Director since 2016.
Gord Wadley
Gord is the owner and operator of Nortec Consulting who has been operating in Smithers since 1980, providing aquatic environmental services throughout northwestern and central BC. This long history has allowed its staff to develop a deep and intimate understanding of northwest resource concerns, the history of resource use in British Columbia, and changing practices within provincial regulators.
Dr. Allison Oliver
Dr. Allison Oliver is an aquatic ecologist and biogeochemist for the Skeena Fisheries Commission, based in Kispiox. Her background includes a wide variety of projects in salmon ecosystems, including water quality, limnology, watershed ecology, aquatic community ecology, coastal estuarine processes, and water policy. Allison has over a decade of experience in grant writing, leading projects, and publishing in the peer-reviewed literature. She serves on several First Nation-led committees throughout the Skeena focused on restoring/protecting salmon populations and salmon watersheds, is
a Trustee at the Skeena Knowledge Trust, Affiliate Member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies within the Department of Geography at University of Victoria, and an American Fisheries Society Climate Change Ambassador.
Alicia Fernando
Alicia is a fish biologist with twenty years of experience. She has served as a technical advisor, programs manager and field biologist with Gitksan Watershed Authorities since 2007. She completed her MSc. in Environmental Practice from Royal Roads University after a fisheries focused BSc. at Vancouver Island University. Her experience has included a variety fish and invertebrate stock and habitat assessments, with a focus on Indigenous led projects locally and abroad.
Jesse Stoeppler
Jesse proudly calls the Skeena watershed home, after completing a degree in Europe he returned to start a family and raise two future leaders amongst the peaks of the beautiful Bulkley Valley. Mentored by Hereditary Chief and Matriarch Yaga’lahl (Dora B. Wilson) he embraces Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en culture and has been actively
participating in title & rights and Clan governance as a member of Wilp Spookwx (Lax Gibuu / Gitumden). He is the deputy Chief councillor for the Village of Hagwilget – the only band that did not sign an Impact Benefit Agreement for Coastal GasLink. As a Project Manager for a multi-million trust fund, Jesse was able to lead the way in establishing comprehensive community planning, land use management and create his community’s Indigenous economic development.