Tom Lockhart, Thebacha Business Development Services Board Chairperson,
has served TBDS since 2005 representing the Lutselk’e Dene Band from the
small remote community of Lutselk’e, NWT. Tom volunteers his time to
several non-profit organizations including Chairing the Denesoline
Development Corporation Board. By profession, Tom is a full-time
Conservation Officer, ENR, with the GNWT for the past 21 years, in
Lutselk’e, NT.
TBDS Director, Arthur Beck, a direct descendant of Chief Snuff, was born
and raised on the land near Taltson River in the NWT, and continues to
live a traditional lifestyle while working a modern world. Arthur speaks
Chipewyan and English fluently and has a working knowledge of the Slavey
and Dogrib languages. Arthur is a true entrepreneur having operated
several successful business in his career including commercial fisherman,
tourism operator, dog team racing, trapper. He has a great deal of
experience serving on government boards including the committee that
advised on the GNWT Wildlife Act, over 20 years on the Great Slave Lake
advisory Committee, Vice President of the NWT Métis Nation, Vice President
of the Fort Resolution Métis Council.
Jeannie Marie-Jewell brings a wealth of experience to her role as a Director on
the TBDS Board.
George Kurszewski is Founding Father and was the first President of the
Northwest Territory Métis Nation. He was also President of the Fort Smith
Métis Council for three separate terms in three decades and set up a
Comprehensive Land Claims Negotiations Process through the South Slave
Métis Framework Agreement signed in 1996, still the only one for Métis in
Canada. He spent ten years as Chief Negotiator and has been an
entrepreneur all his adult life as a consultant and negotiator and is a
log builder by trade. He was awarded a National Aboriginal Achievement
Award in the category of Community Development in 2002. George joined
TBDS in 2012 as a way to help grassroots people achieve more
self-sufficiency and independence.
Warren Gagnon is representing Salt River First Nation on the TBDS board.
Deninu K’ue First Nation representative on the TBDS board of directors is vacant.