Mike Mearns is a member of the Klahoose Indian Band located on Cortes Island. He proudly holds a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) designation through AFOA Canada. Throughout his career, Mike has enjoyed many years working with BC First Nations in the areas of strategic direction, financial management, employment/training, and health.
Working with First Nation communities in BC he found success as an Executive Director for a number of their organizations. These include the BC Aboriginal Training and Employment Society, the Aboriginal Health Association of BC, and the Aboriginal Finance Officers Association of BC.
As a senior executive and member of a number of boards, Mike worked with First Nation leaders to support First Nation governance, economic and social well-being. With community-based decision-making as a foundation, many First Nations in BC now have authority over lands, health, finances, governance, and education.
In all this work, Mike stated that “understanding and honoring First Nation culture was key to developing programs and services for the specific needs of the individual and community. To that end, securing resources from government and the private sector to build our own unique programs was a necessary and rewarding challenge”.
Mike has recently retired from AFOA BC and works now as a consultant to First Nations. He is enjoying life with his wife of 45 years living in Gibsons, BC.