Dr. Donald M. Julien
Executive Director
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Dr. Donald M. Julien is the Executive Director of The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, a position he has held since 1994. Under his leadership, The CMM has grown its programs and services for its member bands through sound management and a meaningful vision for the future.
Dr. Julien’s dedication to the preservation of Mi’kmaw history is evident in everything he does–in his presentations, writings and his passion for the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre Project. Recognition of his efforts and leadership has come in many ways, including the Order of Canada, 2002 Golden Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth, his numerous Honorary Doctorates from Acadia and Mount Saint Vincent Universities as well as the Order of Nova Scotia in 2004.
For more information on Dr. Julien, visit: CMM’s website
Angie Gillis
Associate Executive Director
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Angeline Gillis, B.A., LL.B., was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and was raised in East Bay, N.S. She is a member of the Eskasoni First Nation and is the granddaughter of the late Andrew J. Stevens, a former Keptin of the Sante’ Mawi’omi. Angeline currently resides in Beaverbank, NS, with her wife, Sonja and daughters, Ella Sophia and Janda Jade.
Angeline earned her undergraduate degree from Dalhousie University in 2005 and her LL.B from the Schulich School of Law in 2009. She was called to the Nova Scotia Bar Society in June 2010. Angeline is a practicing lawyer and has worked with The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) since October 2011. In 2013, she became the Director of Environment and Natural Resources after successfully establishing a number of environmental programs for CMM’s Member Communities. Angeline oversees numerous files, projects and services offered to seven (7) Mi’kmaw communities in Mainland Nova Scotia.
Angeline also sits on the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR) Board of Directors; the Assembly of NS Chiefs’ Mi’kmaw Fisheries Advisory Committee (MFAC); Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management External Advisory Board; and, Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture External Advisory Committee.
Alanna Syliboy
Community, Education & Engagement Manager
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Alanna is from the Sipekne’katik First Nation. She is the proud mother of three children, Mia , and Dominick and Sage. She is the daughter of Bernie Syliboy and the late Audrey Syliboy. In her free time Alanna loves to spend time with her family and friends. She also loves to be creative and does bead work. In the summer, you may find Alanna at one of the many pow wows around Mi’kma’ki.
Alanna is responsible for coordinating DARFM community outreach and has organized several successful events and activities including the very popular Fish Friends at the LSK school in Sipekne’katik. Alanna looks forward to many more events and activities as DARFM continues its outreach, youth mentorship and education initiatives.
Sana Kavanagh
Commercial Fisheries Science Liaison Coordinator
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Sana Kavanagh is the Commercial Fisheries Science Liaison Coordinator (CFSLC) for the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. As the CFSLC, Sana informs fisheries managers of CMM and MCG communities about fisheries management and stock assessments in the region. Sana previously worked as CMM’s Senior Fisheries Advisor and Research Education Officer, focused on species at risk conservation and the impacts of industry on aquatic life. Prior to Sana’s time at CMM, she worked with the Integrative Science Program at Cape Breton University on projects bringing together indigenous and western science. Sana is proud to be part of the CMM team and serve each and every mainland Mi’kmaq community. Please reach out to Sana for updates on commercial fisheries issues of relevance to your mainland Mi’kmaw fisheries department!
Charlie Fleming
Operations Supervisor
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Charlie was born and raised in Brookfield, Nova Scotia, where he spends the better part of his time doing activities such as, playing and coaching hockey, golfing, fishing, bow hunting, and being outdoors as with his bird hunting dog, Nova. Charlie is engaged to Alanna Syliboy and is a proud father of their daughters Sage, Mia and son Dominick.
Charlie studied Aquaculture at New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and graduated with his certificate in Aquaculture Technician (2009). Charlie is now working with Mi’kmaw Conservation Group (MCG) as a Research and Field Technician on the Shubenacadie River Monitoring (SRM) project, which uses a beach seine, hoop net, tagging technology, and water quality/acoustic receivers to provide knowledge and research and to help protect all the fish and aquatic species in and around the river system.
Marie Lachance
AFSAR Project Coordinator
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Marie was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec and is French Canadian. In 2011, she moved to Nova Scotia to attend university instantly loving the beauty of the province. She met her partner Adam, and now lives with him their child and their two dogs in Truro.
Marie holds a Bachelor degree in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University, and recently completed a master’s degree in Environmental Assessment at Concordia University, Montreal. Her master’s thesis focused on the Aboriginal consultation process in environmental assessment and explored ways to improve it, so that Aboriginal people can have greater decision-making power over natural resources development.
Alyssa Palmer-Dixon
Nature Legacy Fund St. Croix Species-At-Risk Project Lead
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Born in Calgary, Alberta but raised in Bedford N.S., Alyssa is a graduate of Dalhousie University’s Bachelor of Science program, with a double major in Biology and Neuroscience, and a certificate in Animal Behavior. As a science student, Alyssa was involved in conservation research, data analysis, bio-logging techniques, behavioral and habitat ecology, and marine biology. Alyssa is an avid volunteer member of Halifax Search and Rescue and loves being out in the woods for hours on end, paddling through rivers, and hiking many trails throughout Nova Scotia. Having spent summers living and exploring the shores of the Minas Basin, she has an immense appreciation of this land and its surrounding waterways. Alyssa is thrilled to be a part of DARFM and working within the concept of Netukulimk. She is leading the work completed in the St. Croix Watershed for MCG’s Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk project.
Andrew Van Wychen
GIS Specialist (On leave)
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Andrew grew up on a farm in Middle Musquodoboit. His love of nature led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mt. Allison University. After university Andrew began working in an environmental laboratory in the Microbiology department where he gained experience in water quality testing and assessment and environmental testing requirements. During this time he continued to take every opportunity to enjoy Nova Scotia’s natural areas, whether it be through volunteer work with local conservation charities or personal activities like fishing and hiking.
Andrew completed a degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) part time while working as a laboratory technician. This lead to opportunities working with a Municipal planning office and within the utility industry in their GIS departments.
Seonaid MacDonell
IHPP Project Coordinator
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Seonaid grew up in Enfield, Nova Scotia on her parents’ hobby farm. She graduated from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) with a major in Animal Science. She then worked and travelled overseas in Ireland and Australia for several years. Throughout travelling, she realized she wanted to pursue a degree in environmental studies. In 2018, Seonaid graduated from Dalhousie University with her Master of Resource and Environmental Management degree.
She now resides in Shubenacadie and loves to spend her free time beekeeping, gardening, hiking and volunteering with her former 4-H Club of Shu-Mil as their Biodiversity Project Leader. Through this project, Seonaid has been able to share her passion for biodiversity and explore the biodiversity within Nova Scotia.
Desiree Roberts
Stewiacke Species-at-Risk Project Lead
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Desiree was born and raised just outside of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, but now resides in Truro. Her interest in aquatic conservation began at a young age while fishing with her dad and continued into her education at Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2017 with a Major in Aquaculture and Honours distinction. Her interest grew as she got opportunities to work in the field, including conducting population analysis of striped bass with DFO, volunteering for outreach events with the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, and being part of the Clean Foundation’s Summer Internship program where she worked with MCG for the first time.
Desiree resides in Truro with her husband, cat, and two guinea pigs. When she isn’t at work, she enjoys cross stitching, reading, getting out to explore new trails, and traveling.
Stephen Williams
Fisheries Biologist
Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Stephen was born and raised in the rural community of Leitches Creek in Cape Breton, NS. From a young age Stephen was interested in science and would later go on to graduate from Cape Breton University with a BSc in Biology in 2017.
In 2018, Stephen began his Master of Applied Science in Biological Engineering at Dalhousie University where he studied the productivity of aquatic ecosystems. More specifically, he evaluated the flow of essential omega-3 fatty acids through aquatic trophic systems. During this time, Stephen had the privilege of working alongside renowned scientists at the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC). He also spent time as a lab technician at the Canadian Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) in Halifax, NS. At CIFT, he was primarily involved in a contract with NOAA studying the foraging ecology of harbour seals and gray seals in the Gulf of Maine.
In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors, travelling, and snowboarding.
Kelly Ferrier
Species at Risk Fisheries Field Technician, Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk
Department of Aquatics and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Kelly Ferrier grew up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She enjoys spending her time outside camping and hiking and is passionate about wildlife conservation. She graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree in Environmental Studies from Cape Breton University after receiving a diploma for Natural Resources Environmental Technology from the Nova Scotia Community College.
Kelly had previously worked with MCG through a summer internship program with the Clean Foundation. She is currently working on the Nature Legacy Fund project, focusing on the recovery of aquatic species-at-risk.
Chera Gilby
Administrative Assistant
The Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Chera has a banking & investment background, having worked various positions at Scotiabank from 1998 – 2019 in Halifax, Truro, and New Glasgow. She brings with her a cheerful outlook, a strong work ethic, willingness to help, and will dive in wherever necessary.
She is involved with Save a Life Canada Animal Rescue Society and is a strong advocate for animal rescue. She has fostered eight dogs, and diligently helped place them in their new, safe forever homes, and has adopted two of her own; Timber and Sophie, whom she adores.
Cathy Irving
FSC Tag Coordinator
The Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Cathy is from the Truro area, but grew up in Cape Breton, she currently resides in Shubenacadie with her daughter close by in Stewiacke. Coming from a business administration background, she has a great work ethic, loves working in a team and building relationships with the community.
As the FSC Tag Administrator, Cathy is responsible for overseeing the administration of all fisheries (i.e., Commercial and FSC) tagging and administrative responsibilities. She is also developing, updating, and creating a backup filing system, communicating with clients, DFO, and Directors.