Cyndi Stevens
Director
Cyndi is of Nuu-chah-nulth ancestry from the Ahousaht First Nation and has lived, worked, and played on the c̓išaaʔatḥ Tseshaht and Hupač̓asatḥ territory most of her life. She has been a committed member of the M’akola Group of Societies Board of Directors for almost 30 years. She was appointed in 1994 through her position as Executive Director at the Port Alberni Friendship Center where she has worked and volunteered since 1978.
Over the last 30 years, she has had many opportunities to serve on Provincial and National Boards, some of which have included the Native Court workers Association of BC; Community Native Law Association of BC; BCAAFC Provincial Board, National Association Friendship Centres; Pro-Bono Law of BC, as well as several local and regional committees and boards.
Cyndi shares she is guided by the knowledge she has gained from the teachings of elders, leaders and community which has taught her the value of living with integrity, speaking with honesty, and mutual “?iisaak” – Respect…
Our Elders Teach us, “Hišukʔis c̓awaak” – ‘Everything is one and all is connected’. What I have come to recognize is, “we are all individually responsible for the future of our children and grand children and so on… It is the efforts we make today to create a path where we can journey together that will provide the gift of life to the future of our people. So, even though there are many whose eyes are still closed, we can make the difference by sharing the message of hope & truth, and one day their eyes will be open.”