Chet wa í7sun
We Pull Together – Elders Program Plan

Xwí7ski

The project has been guided by an incredible team of community-nominated Squamish Elders and Youth, known as Xwí7ski (Let’s Go!): Elders Project Action Team (EPAT). Xwí7ski includes Elders, Youth and Cultural Advisors who lead the engagement and process approach, analysis and documentation of results, and event planning.

• Lats-mat Mary Jane Natrall – Elder Representative – Squamish Valley
• Wendy Lockhart Lundberg – Elder Representative – Away-from-Home
• Sisolia Donna Billy – Elder Representative – Squamish Valley
• Diane Baker – Elder Representative – North Shore
• Kiy a’ m’ / Mena’ lh elten Patrick Joseph – Elder Representative – North Shore
• Thlee kul wut Monica Jacobs – Elder Representative – North Shore
• Tlatlakwot Christine Baker – Elder Representative – Squamish Valley
• Pudlas Val Wright – Junior Elder Representative – North Shore
• Bonaro Newman – Elder Representative – Squamish Valley
• Lawrence Walker – Elder Representative – North Shore
• Sesaxwalia Aggie Andrews – Cultural Advisor
• Mestl’áxwts Jessica Walker – Youth Representative – Away-from-Home
• Sadie Rivers – Youth Representative – North Shore
• Rianna Joseph – Youth Representative – North Shore

Emeritus Xwí7ski Members

Once a member of Xwí7ski, always a member of Xwí7ski! The Elders Program Plan and Elders Projects would not be possible without the hard work, cultural knowledge, care, and dedication of all Xwí7ski members. We honour the hard work all Xwí7ski members put into working with Squamish Nation Elders, community, and staff.

• Tselkwilem ‘t Late Byron Joseph
• Kevin Rivers, Sxwch’alten – Junior Elder Representative
• Sulseelsamat Gladys “Flo” Williams – Elder Representative
• Late Barry Cordocedo – Elder Representative
• Ketaxtenaat MJ Jacobs – Youth Representative
• Mason Gamley – Youth Representative
• Tsawaysia Dominique Nahanee – Youth Representative
• Paítsmuḵ Dave Jacobs– Historical Advisor

Steering Committee and Planning Team

The Steering Committee includes directors and senior managers from sponsoring and supporting Squamish Nation departments who monitor project progress, ensure collaboration between departments, and share feedback, guidance, and support.

Steering Committee Members

Marie Natrall – Director, Ts’its’ixwnítway (Member Services)

Austin Chandler – Director, Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sx̱wéx̱wel (Squamish Valley Operations)

Kw’xáliya Josie Harry – Manager, Administrative Services & Squamish Valley Elders Program, Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sxwéxwel (Squamish Valley Operations)

Kelley McReynolds – Executive Director, Nexwnínlhewá7nem Ch’áwch’aw (People Services)

Brian Baker – Executive Director, Ḵ’iyáx̱an Ch’áwch’aw (Community Services)

Glenda Gibbon – Director, Yúustway (Health & Wellness)

Bob Sokol – Director, Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects)

Gursimran Gill – Public Safety Commissioner, Ta na wa Téy̓wilhay̓lhem (Public Safety)

Kwítelut Lorraine Louis – Director, Ta na wa Ns7éyx̱nitm ta Snew̓íyelh (Language & Cultural Affairs)

Former Steering Committee Members

Sxwélhchaliya-t/ Tłaliła̱łg̱awe’ Jordan Ann Joseph – Former Director, Ts’its’ixwnítway (Member Services)

Thlee kul wut Monica Jacobs – Former Director, Ts’its’ixwnítway (Member Services)

Samaya Jardey – Former Director, Ta na wa Ns7éyx̱nitm ta Snew̓íyelh (Language & Cultural Affairs)

Planning Team

The Planning Team is comprised of Squamish Nation Planning and Project Management Staff, Elders Program Leads, and consulting support who provide project coordination, fundraising, planning and research design, and technical support.

Planning Team Members

Kiyúls Waylon Bo Baker – North Shore Elders Center Team Lead, Ts’ixwts’ixwnítway (Member Services)

Celestino Silveira – Squamish Valley Elders Coordinator, Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sxwéxwel (Squamish Valley Operations)

Cynthia Baker – Squamish Valley Elders Worker & Driver, Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sxwéxwel (Squamish Valley Operations)

Kate Kittredge – Senior Advisor, Elders Program Plan Implementation Project

Sharon Roling – Special Projects Manager, Ta na wa Téy̓wilhay̓lhem (Public Safety)

Dianna Hurford – Manager of Strategic Projects, Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects)

Jeff Cook – Technical Lead, Beringia Community Planning

Paula Hay – Technical Lead, Beringia Community Planning

Alana McFarlane – Project Manager, Elders Program Plan Implementation Project

Maya Blood – Technical Support, Beringia Community Planning

Former Planning Team Members

Mackenzie Gomez – Manager, Community Health & Wellness, Yúustway (Health & Wellness)

Ruby Carrico – Planning Manager, Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱ w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects)

Lesley Campbell – Former Manager, Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱ w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects)

Lucie Neliba – Former Team Lead, Elders Centre (North/West Vancouver)

Shawn Turgeon – Former Squamish Valley Elders Centre Team Lead, Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sxwéxwel (Squamish Valley Operations)

Justine Jordan – Former Elders Program Coordinator, Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sxwéxwel (Squamish Valley Operations)

Through the Elders Program Planning process, Elders shared the need for an agreement or code to make all Elders feel more welcome in the Elders’ Program. This includes Squamish principles, teachings, steps, and resources to support respectful relationships amongst Elders participating in the Program and between Elders and Program staff.

After reviewing and summarizing the important ideas and feedback shared during the Elders Program Engagement Project, the planning team engaged Elders, staff, Program Leads, and managers and directors to create a document called “Our Plan for Respectful Relationships.’ This engagement took place through four Talking Circles with Indigenous Lateral Kindness facilitators and four luncheon events between January and April 2024.

This process has resulted in our Respectful Relationships booklet, the Elders Program Snew̓íyelh which includes our vision for respect and inclusion in the program, a summary of how we will put our values into action, and a set of steps for addressing issues in a good way as they arise.

We encourage you to have a look at the Respectful Relationships Code  and Snew̓íyelh Handbook to better understand what Elders value most.

Public Safety and Yúustway Health & Wellness are proud to be leading an important Elders Safety initiative called Téy̓wilhen chet ta Síiy̓uxwa-cht We Protect Our Elders. This work began after Elders and staff shared concerns that Elders were not feeling safe in their own homes and community.  

This work helps teams across the Nation come together to support and care for Elders when there are concerns about Elder abuse, neglect, and self-neglect. Guided by Squamish values, it also aims to raise awareness and support open conversations about Elder safety.

A Squamish Nation Response Pathway has been created with Yúustway and Public Safety. When there is a concern about Elder abuse, neglect, or self-neglect, the first step is to connect with Public Safety. From there, the concern is shared with a Yúustway Wellness Coordinator, who connects the Elder with the necessary and appropriate supports.

With guidance from Elders, we have developed the Téy̓wilhen chet ta síiy̓uxwa-cht We Protect our Elders booklet. This booklet contains information on where to go for support. It also shares stories of what Elder abuse, neglect, and self-neglect can look like and how they can be addressed.

This work is grounded in our Snew̓íyelh, our values. Nation initiatives that support Elders are interconnected, and staff support in even one area strengthens the whole circle of care for our treasured Elders.