About Us

Bill is a Tsimshian / Norweigan artist, wood carver, jeweler, children’s book writer / illustrator and designer. Bill has focused on the Traditional Tsimshian art of his Fathers ancestry since 1980 and has created thousands of Love Rings and Wearable Art ever since. Some of his accomplishments include designing the patch worn by astronauts on the U.S. space shuttle Columbia in 1996, Astronaut patch for Bob Thirsk his 2011 ISS 6 month mission and the carving of the “world’s largest” (192 foot tall) totem pole known as the Spirit of Lekwammen, carved for the Commonwealth Games in Victoria to symbolize unity amongst all Tribes and Nations of the world.

Co-President. Sean, with a Métis heritage, has a 23-year history in world commodity logistics and spent 13 years with Nabob Coffee in warehouse management. He then transitioned into horticulture controls, management, and Greenhouse Supplies. Sean then co-founded Spirit Bear Coffee Company, Canada’s first Indigenous owned and operated coffee company. Spirit Bear Coffee is now a national “super-premium” brand (meaning 100% organic & Fair Trade) serving over 375 locations across Canada to date. Sean then went on to co-found with Paul 1Nation Distribution, a national distribution company. With powerful negotiating skills, Sean’s “Strategic Partners” include the likes of Chrysler Canada. Sean’s most recent successes include negotiating with various First Nation communities encouraging commerce and trade.

Co-President. Paul has over 30 years of experience in Food & Beverage and Marketing Communications with both, retail and direct sales. He also comes with 6 years of public relations experience with an OTC public company. Paul also is the co-founder of Spirit Bear Coffee Company and 1Nation Distribution. Paul began his working career on the farm preparing fruits, veggies, and honey for farmers markets. His love of foods led him into the kitchens in Europe where he returned to Canada as a “City In Guilds” certified Chef. Paul spent the last 13 years of his cooking career owning his own catering firm specializing in events from 100 to 5000. The last 5 of the 13 years he was working with Culinary Team Canada. Paul is responsible for providing executive leadership and management of the Company’s marketing organization and in-bound and out-bound marketing activities worldwide, which include: Corporate marketing, partner/channel marketing, product marketing, and product management. His goal is to position their companies in the various niche markets and as a visionary leader to achieve its revenue goals aka “indigen-omics”, thus sharing the philosophy to our First Nations communities.

Ocean Alliance's mission is to increase public awareness of the importance of whale and ocean health through research and public education. They work with scientific partners to collect a broad spectrum of data on whales and ocean life. 

Tens of thousands of whales are killed or injured every year as a direct or indirect result of human activities. The health of ocean ecosystems is tied directly to the health of whales. If we continue to lose whales, the results will be disastrous not just for the oceans, but for our entire planet.

Spirit Bear Coffee Company helps fund the purchase and construction of new drones (called "SnotBots"), expeditions into the field to collect samples, and data analysis and dissemination through the sales of our Orca Dark Roast Coffee. 

Too learn more, please visit https://whale.org/

Their Mission:
Raincoast is a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by our research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. We use rigorous, peer-reviewed science and grassroots activism to further our conservation objectives. We call this approach ‘informed advocacy’ and it is unique amongst conservation efforts.

Their Vision:
Our vision for coastal British Columbia is to protect the habitats and resources of umbrella species. We believe this approach will help ensure the survival of all species and ecological processes that exist at different scales.

Their Mandate:

Investigate. Inform. Inspire.

“We Investigate to understand coastal species and processes.”
“We Inform by bringing science to decision makers and communities.”
“We Inspire action to protect wildlife and their wilderness habitats.”

The Spirit Bear Coffee Company is the proud sponsor of the annual “Tracking Raincoast” Publication.

To learn more, please visit www.raincoast.org

The Northern Lights Wildlife Society is dedicated to give injured and/or orphaned wildlife a second chance at survival.

The Spirit Bear Coffee company has committed funds to care in the Rescue, Rehab, and Release program for the orphaned bear cubs of any species.

We have also committed funds to the purchase of a GPS Collar for the upcoming release of “Clover”, a Kermode Cub (Spirit Bear Cub). This collar will aid in the research of his release and rehabilitation back into his natural homelands. From this we hope to learn many things about his movements, territory, and survival.

To learn more, please visit http://www.wildlifeshelter.com/

The Park is home to one male kermode bear named Clover. Clover came to the Park as an orphan cub in 2012.

The British Columbia Wildlife Park is a 106-acre zoo located in Kamloops, British Columbia. The British Columbia Wildlife Park is an accredited member of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

To learn more, please visit https://www.bcwildlife.org/

It came about as a result of the ongoing need to assume our traditional responsibility to provide security to our Aboriginal community. Given that the Aboriginal population in Winnipeg is anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000, and is heavily concentrated in certain inner city neighborhoods, it was felt that the community must organize to keep the peace and to assist community members.

The concept behind the patrol, then, is community people working with the community to provide personal security in the inner city in a non-threatening, non-violent and supportive way. The Patrol operates out of the Ndinawe Youth Drop In located in the city’s north end.

Too learn more, please visit https://bearclanpatrol.org/

BORN FROM A LEGACY, FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE

Building upon 16 years of success as the First Nations Snowboard Team, our membership and their communities have driven the next evolution of our non-profit. They are no longer a competitive team, instead, they are focused on unstructured sports and activities that benefit the mental health and physical well-being of their members. These are sports that don't require a team or practice date so we can minimize barriers to participation and introduce their members to activities that help them cope with their daily lives and their shared inter-generational trauma.

ILSA provides year-round programming, free access to training/certification programs and the opportunity to learn a lifelong sport, in a safe place, with other indigenous sport leaders.