Board of Directors
Miziwe Biik is overseen by an elected Board of Directors with the Executive Director reporting to the board. Our current board members are:
President: Mr. Jimmy Dick
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Jimmy Dick is of the Moose Cree First Nation from the community of Moose Factory Ontario. Its located in James Bay and within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. He is fluent in the Cree Language and a Teacher/Educator on Native Culture and Spirituality. He is a proud father of seven children, five sons and 2 daughters.
Jimmy has been actively involved since moving to Toronto in 1975. Jimmy is well known as a member of the Eagleheart Singers drum group who have been based in Toronto for the past twenty six years.Jimmy has been a community organizer for many years involved in the Native Rights Struggle. He is an active volunteer in the Toronto Native Community and served as a board member with various agencies. |
Vice-President: Steve Teekens
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Steve Teekens is an Ojibway of Nipissing First Nation, is the proud father of three children, and grandfather of two.Steve and his family reside in Toronto were he has been working with the marginalized and homeless sector since 1995. Steve worked twelve years at Native Child and Family Services where he started as the Street Outreach Worker and left as the manager of the Youth Services, then he went to YOUTHLINK Inner City/ Youth Skills Zone for a year as the manager of both programs only to land at Native Men’s Residence as the Shelter Manager there for the last two years.Steve is very active in Toronto’s Aboriginal Community where he volunteers on the board of Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, Aboriginal Legal Services Community Council Program, and Toronto Police Services Aboriginal Consultative Committee.
Steve also teaches traditional drumming and to the youth and men at various Native organizations inside and outside the city. Steve enjoys working and volunteering in the Aboriginal Community and wishes to see people overcome their obstacles and find the resilience in themselves to succeed in life. |
Treasurer/Secretary: Michael White
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Michael White, Bear Clan, M’Chigeeng First Nation. Michael has served on the Miziwe Biik board for over six years. Michael has his Honours B.A from the university of Toronto and is currently working on his Masters.
Michael is an owner/operator of a small business based in Toronto. Michael is currently on leave from his role as an events coordinator at the university of Toronto and is working as a Youth Worker for Nogojiwanong friendship centre. In his spare time Michael works a Oshkaabewis, helping elders with Healing, ceremony, teachings, sweats and various other tasks. |
Director: Harry Willmot
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Harry Willmot has worked in the financial industry for over thirty five years and over those years he has managed a number of dynamic initiatives for RBC Royal Bank. Harry is currently responsible for leading the Bank’s Ontario Aboriginal market strategy and is Sr. Manager of Aboriginal Market Development.
He is a founding Director of Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, and Miziwe Biik Development Corporation Toronto; Harry is also founding Director of the National Aboriginal Literacy Foundation. Over the years he has, and continues to serve on numerous regional and national advisory councils. Past community council advisor to the Metro Toronto Police Aboriginal peace keeping unit and the Toronto police services board, and director of the Toronto Native Centre’s Mishkawijiwan Foundation, AFN Housing committee and others. |
Director: Valerie John
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Valerie John, anishnabe qwe and is mother to three teenagers. She is a member of the Red Rock First Nation. Born in Toronto, Valerie grew up in Thunder Bay. Seven years ago, she moved back to Toronto. She secured a job with Toronto Council Fire and has been working there for the last 6 years in various capacities. Currently she is a youth worker.
Valerie volunteers on various board and committee’s. Her previous experience includes sitting as a Board member for the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. She currently sits on the Toronto Urban Aboriginal Strategy as a community member, and also sits on the Community Council for Youth Diversion for Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto. |
