About

This page has definitions of words used to talk about the Constitution Project. It’s helpful for all of us to learn these words so we can communicate clearly with each other. Can’t find the word you’re looking for? Send us an email!

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Ts’ux̱álwet, Danielle Mellish

Project Manager

Danielle is a leader in her family and our community. She gets things done and brings Sḵwx̱wú7mesh stélmexw together. More than anything, she cares about this Nation and the next generation of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People. That’s why she’s managing the Constitution Project. In her own time, Danielle advocates for healthy lifestyles, spending time outdoors especially in our own territory, backyard gardening growing vegetables and flowers and admiring the frequent year round hummingbirds.  

Yususult, Rosemarie (Rose) Williams

Engagement Officer

Rose is connected to her Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community across the Squamish Valley and the North Shore and has lots of community organizing experience. Rose wants to speak with and listen to other Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People about their thoughts and ideas about the Constitution Project and why it is so important for our Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw. In her own time, she enjoys time in front of her loom, weaving, spending time with her family and walking their new addition, a puppy called Bolt. 

Keisha Johnston

Administration Officer

Keisha brings passion for her community and a tireless work ethic to the Constitution Project Team. With her experience as an ironworker and foreman in the construction industry, Keisha is a strong leader and communicator. She’s excited to help bring the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community together. In her own time, she enjoys beading, arts, music and dancing silly for TikTok. 

Paítsmuḵ, Dave Jacobs

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Khelsilem, Dustin Rivers

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Khelsilem is a prominent Indigenous leader and current Chairperson of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). First elected to Council in 2017, Chairperson Khelsilem was an official Spokesperson and active in leading work on various projects and initiatives including developing a not-for-profit housing society and the Sen̓áḵw development, the largest Indigenous housing development in Canadian history. Chairperson Khelsilem’s lifelong work has focused on progressive social change, including climate justice, social democracy and gender equity. Chairperson Khelsilem brought this passion for change when he became leader of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) in 2021. Chairperson Khelsilem has been a strong advocate for transparency, accountability and ethical governing standards that will allow all Nation Members to benefit. Chairperson Khelsilem sits on numerous boards and advisory committees. He is currently the Co-chair of the City of Vancouver’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Taskforce. Chairperson Khelsilem is a fluent speaker of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim(language) and prior to serving the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), he founded a program at Simon Fraser University to help train a new generation of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim(language) speakers. Chairperson Khelsilem currently resides in Vancouver.

Syeta’xtn, Chris Lewis

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Syeta’xtn is a proud member of the Squamish Nation. Raised by his grandparents, Chris was encouraged to learn the traditional ways of the land as well as further his academic education. He is the Indigenous Executive Lead Director at Simon Fraser University. He recently completed his third consecutive four-year term as a member of the Squamish Nation Chiefs and Council. Most importantly, Syeta’xtn is a family man and enjoys connecting to his territory with his wife Jennifer and children Madison and William.

As a former Spokespersons for the Squamish Nation, Chris has proven and continued leadership and experience in upholding and exercising out Rights and Title and Intergovernmental Affairs. His passion is around our Squamish governance structures and principles and bringing them forward in modern context. By building on the foundations and innovation of the 1923 Amalgamation, Syetaxtn looks forward to having conversations with our people on what do we need now to set the course for the next 100 years. As this is not a new conversation, the Squamish Nation Constitution can be the canoe that starts our continued journey.  

Tsúnumut, Brad Baker

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Sisolia, Donna Billy

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Jonny Williams

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Peter Baker

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Peter Baker has spent a majority of his professional career focused on training and development, financial planning and project management. Most of his experience has been in the hospitality sector where he has managed an average staff of 15 to 35 people with annual sales between 1.8 million to 3.5 million per year. 

“I have been blessed to have worked with a number of amazing mentors and teams. I’ve learned tons from these experiences and relish the opportunity to learn more as it relates to leadership, financial management and employee motivational techniques within a high-performance team setting.”

Syexwaliya, Ann Whonnock

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Jessie Williams

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Jessie, a proud citizen of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), draws upon her lived experience, educational achievements, and teachings from elders to foster Indigenous presence, voice, and capacity across sectors. Her deep commitment to relationship-building is grounded in the understanding that meaningful progress—whether educational, social, economic, all—comes through collaboration and unity.

Mentored from an early age by her family, Jessie is a Relationship Holder, dedicated to creating spaces where people from all walks of life can come together to advance collective well-being. Her leadership is centered on driving systemic change and transformative growth that respects Indigenous values and contributes to lasting, positive impact.

With a career spanning education, reconciliation, partnership development, strategic planning, and nation-building, Jessie has worked to develop programs, policies, and initiatives that promote inclusivity and innovation. In her role as Dean of Indigenous Initiatives at Vancouver Community College, and with over a decade of experience in educational administration, she leads with a human-centered approach that prioritizes advancing Indigenous priorities.

Jessie’s experience in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations equips her to bridge communities and foster mutual understanding. She has been recognized for her leadership with an Emerging Leader Achievement Award from her Nation in 2023 and is a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and educator on topics such as decolonization, Indigenization, stakeholder relations, equity, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development.
As an experienced board director, Jessie brings a holistic perspective to governance, having served on strategic committees and boards such as the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), where she chaired as the Post-Secondary Subcommittee, and the Board of Governors for Capilano University.

Jessie’s work is dedicated to empowering Indigenous communities and supporting organizations that seek to meaningfully indigenize their practices while fostering true reconciliation.