About

Ts’ux̱álwet, Danielle Mellish

Project Manager

Danielle is a proud Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw member and leader in her family and our community. She knows how to get things done and brings Sḵwx̱wú7mesh stélmexw together. More than anything, she cares about this Nation and the next generations of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People. That’s why she’s managing the Constitution Project. Danielle has over 30 years of experience working for the Squamish Nation in various positions and departments and has established meaningful relationships with our Nation members near and far.  

In her own time, Danielle advocates for healthy lifestyles, spending time outdoors, especially in our own territory to exercise our rights, learn harvesting techniques and learning about our culture. She spends a lot of time in her backyard gardening and growing a wide variety of vegetables and flowers to help feed her family and admires the frequent year-round hummingbirds.   

One of Danielle’s favorite things to do is to sit and listen to the Elders tell their stories and memories of “the old days”. Learning about our elders’ experiences and our history is important so that we can carry on those teachings, knowledge, and lessons and pass them to our younger generations and to the ones who haven’t been born yet.  

Yususult, Rosemarie (Rose) Williams

Engagement Officer

Yususult, Rose Williams is a proud Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and values her connection to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community across the Squamish Valley and the North Shore and has lots of community organizing experience. Rose has over 20 years of experience working for the Squamish Nation. She took some time off from work to achieve her bachelor’s in business administration from Capilano University.

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, Yususult enjoys time in front of her loom, weaving, attending cultural events, spending time with her family, walks to the river and forest with her dog, Bolt, and her new interest, container gardening. 

Yususult believes that it is important for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stelmewx to know who they are and where they come from.

Michelle Hawthornthwaite

Administrative Coordinator

Michelle Hawthornthwaite is a proud member of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) who values her culture and community. She is committed to supporting the development of a constitution that reflects Sḵwx̱wú7mesh values and strengthens the Nation for generations to come. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the outdoors through hiking.

Paítsmuḵ, Dave Jacobs

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Paitsmuk, Dave Jacobs is a respected elder of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). Paitsmuk was born and raised on the Xwmelch’tstn (Capilano) reserve and lives there with his wife of 68 years, Slawiya, Andrea Jacobs. Paitsmuk has been involved with the community all his life, whether it’s sports, like lacrosse, canoe or boxing, or serving the community on council from 1966 to 1986. He was a key figure in the decades-long legal effort to reclaim the ancestral village site of Senakw, which resulted in the successful return of the land to the Squamish Nation.

Paitsmuk is also involved and embraces his culture in their spiritual home, the longhouse. He shares wisdom about Skwxwu7mesh identity and responsibility. He is also noted for participating in public conversations about Squamish history and culture. Paitsmuk is still actively committed to the betterment of his community by participating on several committees and shares his extensive knowledge and experiences with them and anyone who will listen and wants to learn.

Creating a constitution for Squamish Nation has always been on Paitsmuk’s mind since he was on council and he is looking forward to seeing this important document being brought forward, for the people, by the people.

Syexwaliya, Ann Whonnock

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Syex̱wáliya (Ann Whonnock) from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) is a Squamish Nation elected Councillor and Elder/Knowledge Carrier. Syex̱wáliya has strong Indigenous worldviews, ancestral knowledge and traditional teachings. She recently completed her SFU Master of Business Administration, Indigenous Business and Leadership and holds a Capilano University Bachelor of Business Administration. Through the teachings of her late grandparents, Syex̱wáliya works to share Squamish Nation cultural protocols and teaching to future generations. Her passion is to see that Squamish culture, language and ceremonies continue to be the cornerstone of the Nation for future generations, and the culture carried on by future generations and the snichim (language) to be used, not only by herself, but for all the families and future generations in their daily lives and ceremonies. Let’s not let our Culture and Snichim die out!

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.  

Tsnomot, Brad Baker

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Brad Baker (Tsnomot) is a proud member of the Squamish First Nation and a senior leader in Indigenous education, governance, and sport. He holds a Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Education and has dedicated over 30 years to public education in British Columbia as a teacher, administrator, District Principal, and currently as Senior Advisor Indigenous Relations and Superintendent of Indigenous Education with BC’s Ministry of Education and Child Care. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Education.

Brad has served the Nation in key governance roles, including Chair of the Squamish Nation Wealth Secretariat, Trustee of the Squamish Nation Trust, and Facilitator of People’s Assembly’s.   He is proud to be the Chair of the Squamish Nation Constitution Working Group, supporting long-term sustainability for future generations.

A lifelong athlete and sport leader, Brad is a Board Member with Canada Soccer and is in leadership roles with the Canadian Olympic Committee and viaSport BC,

Across all aspects of his work, Brad carries forward the teachings and mentorship of the late Chief Joe Mathias, whose guidance on humility, listening, and principled leadership continues to shape his approach. As part of the responsibility entrusted to him by his Nation and family, Brad is committed to enhancing awareness, understanding, and respect for the values of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.

Sisolia, Donna Billy

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Donna Billy, a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Elder, has served on the Nation council and ran for the District of Squamish council. Her ancestral name is Sisolia, which she was given to her when she was 10 years old, means hard-working person. Name a local board, committee or government body and she has likely been involved in some way. She said growing up on the Stawamus reserve, she was raised by the community, learning Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ways from the Elders, especially the women. In turn, Billy passes on that knowledge to the younger generation. She has been a lifelong learner and teacher.

Jonny Williams

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Jonny Williams is a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) person and he lives in the Squamish Valley. He has spent his life learning our culture, language, and teachings, guided by many in our community. As a younger member of our Nation, he brings a unique perspective, one shaped by both tradition and lived experience navigating two worlds in this modern time. Jonny strives to carry himself with the strength of both the feather and the pen. Jonny believes there is wisdom, strength, and opportunity to be gained from both. He has served on the Squamish Nation Electoral Commission as well as the Constitution Working Group, allowing him to contribute to my community while also deepening his understanding of our governance systems and responsibilities we hold to one another. He also volunteers with the Search for Slhaw’t, by surveying, monitoring, recording and reporting herring spawn in Howe Sound; First Nations Snowboard Team, instructing and coaching snowboarding to Indigenous youth; Welh tima Kexwusem Dance Group, teaching our youth our songs and dances, and; Squamish Youth Soccer, coaching youth travel soccer team. 

Shilsút, 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.”

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.

Ketax̱tenaat, Monica Jacobs

Constitution Development Working Group Member

Ketax̱tenaat, Monica Jacobs, known as her nickname MJ, is a proud Squamish Nation member. Her parents are Mary Jacobs and Stanley Joseph (Ayay), and her grandparents are Gordon and Virginia Jacobs & the Late Stanley and Dorothy Joseph. MJ grew up and currently lives on the Capilano Reserve, raised by her mother, aunt and grandparents. MJ is a community member through and through – always participating as a youth representative on many nation committees and advisory’s. MJ is currently in her 4th year at UBC, studying to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies.