Carleen Thomas
Burrard Inlet, Lower Fraser
Carleen Thomas is from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver; Tsleil-Waututh means “People of the Inlet” referring directly to the whole of Burrard Inlet, Indian River, and the Indian Arm. Carleen earned her Bachelor of Education degree from UBC in 2003 and spent 16 years as an elected Council Member for her Nation. Carleen’s key influences in her life are her grandparents: Hereditary Chief John L. George & Lillian “Dolly” George and her maternal Grandmother Caroline Thomas nee: Joseph. Their teachings, unconditional love, and most of all, patience in guiding and preparing Carleen will last a lifetime.
Key Positions
- During Carleen’s tenure as an elected Council Member – Community Development Portfolio, which included Health and Education
- Tsleil-Waututh Representative on the Board of Directors for Naut’sa Mawt Tribal Council
- Currently – Aboriginal Representative Chair on the Senate at Capilano University
- Burnaby School District’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee
- Grandmother of five amazing grandchildren
Quote
"I joined the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee to keep apprised of the work going on at this level; to be the voice of those Nations in the Lower Fraser / Burrard Inlet; and willing to build those relationships my Grandfather said are so important. He said, ‘They’re not going anywhere. We’re not going anywhere. We need to find a way to co-exist. We need to find a way to get along.’ We have to work together.”