Board of Directors

Victor Fern, Chairperson
Fond-du-Lac

Regional Member

A 20-year veteran of the mining sector, including board positions with CanAlaska Uranium Ltd., Northern Saskatchewan Environmental Quality Committee (NSEQC) and Northlands College, Victor understands perhaps better than most, the relationship between the mining industry and the north. This unique perspective was what prompted a Chief’s suggestion to get involved with the Six Rivers Fund. “Since then I have seen that this fund is going to be good for the north. It’s about giving back, about benefitting our youth and our elders,” he says.

A lifelong northerner, husband, father of four, grandfather to nine and former Chief of the Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation, Victor’s multi-generational vision is home grown.

Victor brings experience, calm wisdom, and a hopeful view of the future to the Six Rivers Fund board. While he’s on the board, Victor would like to see expanded youth recreational opportunities and increased access to medical equipment for people in the Athabasca region.

Val Deschambeault, Vice Chair, Secretary & Treasurer
Cumberland House

Regional Member

Val is from Cumberland House and will represent the eastern region. Val joins the board of directors with a passion for Northern Saskatchewan.  Val brings many years of experience in community development. Asked why she applied to the board of directors, Val says, “we have the opportunity to sit at the table to represent our regions, to make decisions to help support the north.”

In recent years, Val has honed her community leadership and advocacy through roles as an elected official and community development coordinator.

While she is on the board, Val would like to see more support for local land-based activities with a focus on culture “it’s becoming more important that the youth are engaged and feel connected to their traditions – I would like to see this happen more in the eastern region.”

Isidore Campbell
Beauval

Regional Member

Isidore is a member of the English River First Nation, a former Vice Chief of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council and a lifelong northerner. Isidore’s extensive community leadership experience, his vision to benefit the region’s youth, and a strong belief in good governance and accountability make him a perfect candidate to provide leadership to Six Rivers Fund. Isidore knows that even though the North has changed with technology and resource development, the essential connection between the land and its people hasn’t.

Isidore was first introduced to the Six Rivers Fund through an invitation from Cameco to serve as an elder for the working group that emerged from Cameco’s Northern Leader’s Roundtable. By serving as the elder, Isidore was inspired to get more involved. “The more I heard about the plans for the creation of a legacy fund, the more excited I was. I want to be part of something that will benefit the region long after mining has finished,” he says.

With warmth and wisdom, Isidore hopes to contribute to strengthened bonds between youth and elders and facilitate some simple infrastructure improvements in the region during his time on the Six Rivers Fund board.

William Dumais
Southend

Regional Member

It was an invitation from his Chief and a nomination out of the working group following Cameco’s Northern Leader’s Roundtable that led to William’s time on the Six Rivers Fund board. William is a lifelong northerner with varied experiences in the region including several previous board positions with Mamawetan Churchill River Health Authority, Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO), and the Missinipi Broadcast Corporation (MBC).

He has been a carpenter, a firefighter, a local politician and is now teaching at Reindeer Lake High School—a role that fuels his commitment to northern youth. “I want to be involved in the Six Rivers Fund because we won’t always have mining here, so what comes next? What’s the legacy? How will our youth do?” Mr. Dumais wonders.

William is a dedicated community advocate who hopes to open the door for more northern youth to access winter team sports and facilitate some local infrastructure enhancements during his time on the Six Rivers Fund board.