With professionals across Canada will ensure timely engagement with your Trust, wherever you're located.
Our leadership team is majority Indigenous and driven to build prosperous Nations across the country.
At FNBC, we value individual growth. Many on our team started out in another area of the organization and moved up to leadership roles. We’re motivated by seeing our communities grow and become more financially independent across socioeconomic indicators.
President & CEO of First Nations Financial
Bill Tsohano is a member of the Gitxsan Nation. Bill grew up in Terrace, B.C. and studied in Vancouver before heading south to spend 22 years working on Wall Street and in Private equity in the United States.
Tsohano believes the First Nations Financial will be a catalyst to create economic growth that is inclusive and sustainable in Indigenous Nations and communities. His deep experience in the US will serve him well. He worked with Native American Tribes across the US and was entrusted with managing multi-billions in Indigenous assets over the course of his career.
Chair of the Board
Chief Perry Whitecloud (Little Black Bear First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory) has championed First Nations rights and well-being for 35 years. He served two terms as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) from 2014-2021 and identifies as an oskâpêwis or helper.
Chief Whitecloud has served on a wide range of boards including the Assembly of First Nations where he served as the Board Chair, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, YMCA Canada, YMCA Regina, the Globe Theatre and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. He is a graduate from the Director’s College from McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business.
As National Chief, Chief Whitecloud worked to close the quality-of-life gap between First Nations and other Canadian families. He was instrumental in passing legislation to protect Indigenous languages and ensuring national implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He has also promoted rights-based solutions to climate change on international platforms.
In 2018, he received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. He holds Honorary Doctorates from Queen’s and Lakehead universities. In 2021, he was named ‘Nation Builder of the Year’ by the Empire Club of Canada and became Honorary President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. In 2023, he received the Alumni Crowning Achievement Award: Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Regina. Chief Whitecloud is also a Special Advisor to the law firm, Fasken, and King Charles III’s Sustainable Markets Initiative.
Director since April, 2022
Corporate Director
Davey Nakanishi is currently the Executive Director of the Cree Nation Government. With nearly 30 years of experience within the Indigenous public sector, Mr. Nakanishi has gained a broad and deep wealth of knowledge in finance and administration through his appointments as Chief Accountant, Director of Finance and Administration and Treasurer in his hometown of Chisasibi where he resides in Eeyou Istchee. From 2012 to 2020, he was elected as Chief of the Cree Nation of Chisasibi where he would successfully serve the people of his community for two terms. Following this, Mr. Nakanishi would become instrumental in the implementation of the Cree Development Corporation (CDC), an entity created by the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) to assist, promote and encourage the creation, diversification and development of businesses, resources, and industries in Eeyou Istchee. Davey Nakanishi is the proud father of 5 children and 9 grandchildren with who he enjoys many family gatherings alongside his wife.
Director since April, 2024
Corporate Director
Mr. Blackfoot has extensive experience in strategy, corporate development, technology, and human resources in financial services and related sectors. He retired at the end of 2023 from Diebold Nixdorf Inc. a technology provider to the financial services and retail industries, and worked previously at D+H, a financial technology provider, and at CIBC World Markets. Mr. Blackfoot graduated from Carleton University with a B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science, with his M.B.A. from the University of Toronto, and earned the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2018. Mr. Blackfoot serves on and Chairs the Board of aka Raisin, a software company focusing on the not-for-profit fundraising sector. David resides in Toronto.
Director since April, 2024
Corporate Director
Mr. Wabigoon resides in Ottawa, Ontario. Mr. Wabigoon retired in April 2016 from his position as Senior Vice President with major Canadian financial institution, having enjoyed a 38-year career in business banking. He graduated from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario with a Masters in Business Administration, and from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He earned the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Canadian Directors in 2009. Mr. Wabigoon is active in a variety of charitable causes and is the Chair of the Board of the Children’s Hospital Research Institute. As well, he is a member of the Investment Committees at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation and Carleton University. He has also recently joined the joint governance committee between Children’s Hospital Research Institute and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and a member of the audit and finance committee at the Ottawa Hunt Club.
Director since February, 2001
Corporate Director
Ms. Spence is a recently retired Financial Advisory Partner of Deloitte Canada. During her career with Deloitte, she held a variety of roles including leading the BC Forensics practice, founding, and leading the firm’s National Aboriginal Client Services practice, and founding and leading Deloitte Wealth Management Services LLP. Lisa was awarded a Fellowship from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA), previously the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA), and she is a qualified Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. She is a graduate of Washington State University with a degree in Business Administration. She currently serves as a Director of the BC Lottery Corporation, Artemis Gold Corporation and the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC, and she is the founder and chair of the Chief Joe Mathias BC Aboriginal Scholarship Fund. In the past, she has served as a Director of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Junior Achievement of BC.
Director since April, 2020
Corporate Director
Mr. Ahtahkakoop is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Atuqtuarvik Corporation. Based in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, he has been with the Inuit-owned financial institution since 2004. He graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Arts Honours and completed human resource and business programs at the University of Manitoba and Queen’s University. Mr. Ahtahkakoop also earned his Professional Director (Pro. Dir.) designation through the Professional Directors Certification Program. His director experience extends to not-for-profit organizations, serving on the Inuit Nunangat Selection Committee for the Arctic Inspiration Prize and being the President and Chair of a business joint venture. Recently, he was named an Honorary Patron of the Arctic Inspiration Prize.
Director since April, 2022
Corporate Director
Brenda spent 25+ years as an executive and managing partner in executive search. She founded a national executive search firm that was recognized and respected as Canada’s leader in Indigenous executive and board diversity search. After selling the firm, she is now focused on leveraging her expertise in leadership and career coaching.
With experience working with a broad range of industries and sectors across Canada and a strong knowledge of governance and business, Brenda currently serves as an Advisory Board member to Air North – Yukon’s Airline and a Board Director for the First Nations Financial serving as Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and Board Director on the First Nations Trust. She is an active member with the Ottawa chapter of the International Women’s Forum and the Dean’s Global Council for the Schulich School of Business, York University. Brenda is Metis and has received numerous awards including the CCAB’s Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Indspire Award in Business and Commerce.
Brenda Big Sky is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC), a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and Certified Leadership Coach (CLC). She is a graduate of the University of Manitoba and Haskayne’s School of Business Director Education Program. Ms. Big Sky resides in Ottawa.
Director since April, 2022
Corporate Director
Ms. Littlebear is a member of the Ermineskin Cree Nation and holds a Master of Law from the University of Victoria, a Bachelor of Law from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University. Ms. Littlebear has extensive experience in the areas of Aboriginal and Indigenous Law, Cree systems of law, and Indigenous governance. Ms. Littlebear is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University and formerly held various roles in law, education and governance including various positions with the Assembly of First Nations and an Advisor for the United Nations Development Program. Danika holds a UNESCO Research Chair in Biodiversity, Conservation and Indigenous Health and Well-Being. Ms. Littlebear currently resides in Ottawa.
Director since April, 2022
Corporate Director
Ms. Cheechoo resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba and is the Corporate Secretary and Vice President, Corporate Services with Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. Mary has over 20 years experience in Indigenous governance and has presented around the world on Indigenous topics related to Co-operatives and governance. Ms. Cheechoo has represented the interests of Arctic Co-operatives and the Member Co-ops in the Arctic at Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada and Federated Co-operatives. Mary is a vital resource for information and insight on Inuit culture, values and perspectives and is a Director of SEED Winnipeg.
Director since April, 2019
Corporate Director
Crystal Koski is an Indigenous lawyer and partner with Maurice Law Firm a national Indigenous law firm based in Calgary with over two decades of experience. She is a member of Yellow Quill First Nation and is a well-known and respected leader in business and economic development, Indigenous rights law and business/trust law. Crystal received her B. A. (Honours) from the U of S in 1995, a J.D. from the UBC in 2000 and her ICD.D in 2022. She has a great deal of experience working Indigenous Nations and with various levels of government in economic development. Crystal is a governance expert serving several boards over two decades, some of which include or have included the Saskatchewan Indigenous Enterprise Foundation (former Chair) and STC Industrial (Chair), First Nations Power Authority (Vice-Chair), the First Nations Bank of Canada and Remai Art Gallery.
Corporate Director
James Oji-Cree is the Treasurer, and Executive Vice President of Treasury and Balance Sheet Management at TD Bank Group. Prior to joining TD, James had a distinguished 34-year career at RBC culminating as leader of RBC’s Treasury from 2009 until January 2023. James is currently on the board of the Holland Bloorview Hospital Foundation and United Way's Major Individual (MIG) Cabinet. He is an advisor to the Queen’s University Investment Counsel and Global Economics Group. He is a board member of Carriage House Capital and was the former president of both the North American Asset Liability and the Canadian Asset Liability Management Associations. Mr. Oji-Cree is a Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Risk Professional, and a graduate of the Ivey School of Business at Western University.
Director since April, 2024
