Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Francis Laceese has dedicated a majority of his lifetime to serving his community through leadership roles. Francis was elected Chief of Tl’esqox (Toosey First Nation) since 1998, as well as previously holding a council position from 1994–1998 and Band Manger position. Chief Laceese is on the Board of Directors for the Tŝilhqot’in National Government, focusing on issues related to rights and title, food security and the environment.

With a keen focus on international relations, Chief Laceese has been voicing concerns of the Tŝilhqot’in on a global scale through the United Nations and other Indigenous groups. Fighting for the full jurisdiction of Tŝilhqot’in lands has always been at the forefront of his work. Focusing also on family and child well-being, Chief Laceese has been the President of Denisiqi Services Society since 2017, serving on the Board of Directors for over a decade.

CO-FOUNDER

Valeria Mack is an Indigenous artist, songwriter, holistic therapist, permaculture landscaper, and activist. From a young age, she has been dedicated to social work, drawing inspiration from her knowledge and understanding of the world, particularly in Mexico. It was there that she first studied music and meditation, and spent several years in medical school.

Throughout her journey, Valeria has lived and worked in diverse communities across Bolivia, Brazil, the Amazon, Colombia, and Peru. She collaborated on projects that deepened her understanding of sustainable living, which eventually led her to study permaculture in Mexico, Canada, and Ireland. During this time, she also engaged in social and cultural initiatives, hosting over 200 volunteers to teach holistic wellness and land-based permaculture practices.

In addition, she established temporary schools, welcoming Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and elders. She collaborated with strong Indigenous organizations, including Fundación EnseñArte, Música Para Todos Piauí, Raíces y Saberes del Soconusco, UNICEF, Puente a la Salud Comunitaria, The Third Space Urban Garden Alma Maczil, and Proyecto Yum Kaax.

Valeria continued her studies in art and languages, earning a master’s degree in music therapy and receiving a scholarship to attend a voice residency in Mexico. She is deeply grateful for the support of her parents—both doctors from Juchitán, Oaxaca, Mexico—who helped her pursue her studies and respected her ways, which at the time were not always familiar.

She further deepened her expertise by studying permaculture, eco-technologies, and eco-building in Mexico and Canada. In 2024, Valeria worked alongside Trevor Mack as a manager of the Tl’etinqox Garden Project. For the past five years, she has also devoted herself full-time to serving meditation courses and maintaining a personal meditation practice. Currently, she is balancing her work as a full-time mother with her ongoing involvement in the NENQAYNI projects.

CO-FOUNDER

Trevor Mack is a Tŝilhqot’in filmmaker, cultural guide, and community leader whose work bridges ecological stewardship, Indigenous food sovereignty, and cinematic storytelling. His permaculture pathway includes formal training in Permaculture Design at Rancho Mastatal in Costa Rica, Indigenous Agriculture at Tea Creek Farms in British Columbia, and advanced eco-technology, agroecology, and bio-intensive cultivation studies at the renowned Las Cañadas Permaculture Centre in Mexico.

He has translated this training into hands-on applications as Community Garden Manager and Advisor for the Tl’etinqox International Cultural Garden Centre, where he led a team to harvest over 1,000 lbs of food, facilitated youth agricultural workshops, and supported the development of Indigenous Food Sovereignty policy and community visions. His work with the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty and REFARMERS has expanded his impact across multiple First Nations communities, including advising on garden design and land-based education programming.

Alongside his ecological work, he has spent over fifteen years building an influential artistic and leadership career. As a writer, director, and producer, he has created award-winning films—including Portraits from a Fire, Clouds of Autumn, and In the Valley of Wild Horses—that center Indigenous voices and cultural revitalization, screening at festivals around the world. His leadership includes serving as an elected Tl’etinqox Councillor, a founding board director of the NENQAYNI Foundation, and a council member on the Indigenous Advisory Council for Agriculture & Food for the Government of B.C.