The Algonquin Negotiation Representatives (“ANRs”) comprise 16 individuals who meet monthly at various locations, often at venues throughout the Traditional Territory.  Their mandate includes developing the outlines of a possible Algonquin Treaty with the intent of negotiating its terms with the governments of Canada and Ontario.

The ANRs are elected for three-year terms.  The next election has been established for May 2008.

A key role of the ANRs is to foster unity among all Algonquins in the Traditional Territory, communicating and consulting Algonquin electors regularly, and working as a team to achieve a Treaty with the best possible outcomes within a reasonable timeframe.

Seven of the 16 ANRs come from the Pikwàkanagàn First Nation, who also hold elected positions as the Chief and members of Council.  The other nine members have been elected in nine communities in the Traditional Territory.  The communities are:

Algonquin Negotiation Representatives:

Clifford Bastien Jr.  (Chief, Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation)

Born and raised in Mattawa, Cliff is descended from one of the original Algonquin families who settled in Mattawa in the late 1700's. He and his wife Linda have made Mattawa their home, as well as their four adult children.  Cliff's main goal in settling the land claim is obtaining benefits that are fair and equal to all Algonquins and will be sustainable for all future generations.  Cliff wants to ensure that beneficiary criteria will prevent the extinction of the Algonquin Nation in Ontario. When Cliff was elected Chief of the Mattawa/North Bay Algonquins in November 2006, his goals were to bring Algonquin culture and pride back into the community.

Lynn Clouthier (Ottawa)

Lynn Clouthier was born and raised in the Pembroke and Petawawa area of the Ottawa Valley. She attended Ottawa Teachers' College and earned a B.A. (Eng.) from the University of Ottawa. Lynn taught elementary school for 33 years with the Renfrew and Ottawa-Carleton school boards. In her retirement, she has been volunteering with the Peer Support group for the Violence Against Women program at the West Ottawa Community Resource Centre. Her latest project has been to design and present a Healthy Relationships program to Grade 8's. Over the years, Lynn has been a union steward, tutor, foster parent and president of her condominium board. She now lives in rural Ottawa and spends summers at Muskrat Lake.

Robert Craftchick H.B.Sc.F., RPF (Whitney)

Bob has worked in the forestry sector in a number of capacities in both the private and public sectors.  He has received diplomas from Trent University (Small Business Management and Native Economic Development) and Sault College of Applied Arts (Aboriginal Resource Technician Program), and has an Honours Bachelor of Science Forestry Degree from Lakehead University. Besides his duties as an ANR, Bob works with local school boards to educate children on the Algonquin culture and in conservation activities for fisheries resources with the Bancroft and Area Stewardship Council.

Katherine Cannon (Chief, Algonquin Nation Kijicho Manito, Bancroft / Baptiste Lake)

Katherine has been Chief of the Algonquin Nation Kijicho Manito located in the Bancroft and Baptiste Lake areas since 1995.  She was born in Maynooth and has lived in this area all of her life.  Her ancestors have resided on the north shore of Baptiste Lake, Herschel Township and Hastings County for many years. Katherine has been involved in the Algonquin land claim negotiations since 1991. Her hobbies include skiing, canoeing, fishing, hunting, painting, native rattle and drum making and other crafts, knitting, embroidery and hiking.  She has spent many days canoeing in Algonquin Park and is familiar with the Park’s many lakes or rivers.  Katherine is married with three daughters and four grandsons.

Doreen Davis (Chief, Shabot Obaadjiwan, Sharbot Lake)

Doreen’s Algonquin name is Eagle Cloud Woman (Migiziw Wa'nakwad Ikwey) of the Shabot Obaadjiwan of Sharbot Lake, a community near Kingston. First elected in 1995 to the Shabot Obaadjiwan council, she became involved in the Algonquin land claim, becoming an Alternate in 1997 during a period of earlier negotiations.  She was elected Chief of the Shabot Obaadjiwan in 1999, becoming her community’s representative for the Land Claim negotiations.  She was honored with the Chief's head dress in 2005 – designating her as ancestral as well as elected chief – at the same time she was elected as an ANR. Her career over the years has been in the retail sector, food service and as a financial advisor. Doreen is married to John and they have three children and six grandchildren.  She is committed to reaching a land claim settlement

Patrick Glassford (Chief, Algonquins of Greater Golden Lake)

Patrick has an extensive background in Algonquin governance among the Algonquins of Greater Golden Lake. He was first elected to council in 1999 and has served as its Chief from 2003 to present. He is currently president of the Algonquin Nation Negotiation Directorate Corporation (ANND).  Patrick is dedicated to the survival and prosperity of the Algonquin people.

He is co-editor and illustrator of the “Standard Grading Guide of Canadian Decimal Coinage,” and editor of “Coins of Canada 2008.”

An avid gardener and naturalist, he is actively pursuing a degree in cosmology.

Davie Joanisse (Interim Chief and Band Manager, Antoine First Nation)

Davie has been a lifelong resident of the Mattawa area, combining work with the Antoine First Nation community with a career as a social services worker and in the forestry sector. His family has lived in Mattawa and the surrounding area for generations. He has been involved in negotiations for the Algonquin land claim for about 10 years on behalf of the Antoine First Nation. He is active with three separate planning teams for forestry management in the region. He has worked with young offenders and in employment counseling and acts as band manager of its commercial operations which include a trading post and restaurant. He is a Bachelor of Arts from Nipissing University and has been awarded an honours diploma as a social service worker (native program) from Canadore College. He is married to Donna and they have two children and three grandchildren.

Sherry Kohoko (Councillor, Pikwàkanagàn First Nation)

Sherry is a wife and mother of four children. Sherry has spent her entire life living at Pikwàkanagàn and was elected to sit on Council in March 2003. She began her career at Pikwàkanagàn as a recording secretary in the Nation’s administrative organization, taking and transcribing minutes for the Negotiation Department. In 1997, she was promoted to the position of Executive Assistant. After intensive training she was later promoted to the position of GIS Coordinator in 2001, responsible for preparing maps of the claim territory. As an elected councillor of the Pikwàkanagàn First Nation, she acts as an ANR.

H. Jerrow (Jerry) Lavalley (Councillor, Pikwàkanagàn First Nation)

Born at Pikwàkanagàn, Jerry graduated from high school in the community and has over the years worked in accounting and as an architectural and mechanical draftsman.   He started his working career in Pikwàkanagàn, and has lived and worked over the years in Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago.  Jerry worked for 33 years in the U.S.A. before retiring and returning in 1998 to Pikwàkanagàn.  First elected to Pikwàkanagàn council in 2000, he is now in his fourth term and acts as an ANR.  Jerry plays golf and enjoys hunting, fishing, woodworking and carpentry.

Cliff Meness (Councillor, Pikwàkanagàn First Nation)

Cliff has the longest standing record for the position of Chief of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn with a total of 12 years. He was Chief of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation from 1978-1987 and again from 1989-1993. Cliff Meness is a lover of fine old cars and has re-modeled a number of antique and retro vehicles. He has traveled far and wide displaying his cars at shows and meetings. Cliff also works for the community Fire and Rescue Department.

Randy Malcolm (Chief, Snimikobi Algonquin First Nation, Ardoch)

Randy has lived within the Algonquin Nation all of his life, becoming involved with the land claim in the late 1990s, first as an alternate and later as the representative for what was then the Ardoch community, which has been renamed as the Snimikobi Algonquin First Nation.  In 2002, he was elected as Chief of the Snimikobi and in 2005 as the Algonquin Nation Representative (ANR) to work with the Governments of Canada and Ontario to negotiate a Land Claim Treaty for the Algonquins of Ontario.  Randy is a graduate of Algonquin College in both Forestry and in Electronics, and has spent 15 years working for the Ministry of Natural Resources and in electronics repair in private industry and in operating his business.   He has taught drivers education at high schools throughout Eastern Ontario for 18 years.   He is married with three children and three grandchildren.

Jim Meness (Councillor, Pikwàkanagàn First Nation)

Jim has been involved with the fish and wildlife management issues and has played an important role in the conservation of moose and the protection of the Algonquin Park wolves. He is an active member of the Pikwàkanagàn Fire/Rescue Department with numerous certificates from the Ontario Fire College for fire protection, chemical, nuclear and bio-hazardous terrorism awareness. He is also certified by the Ministry of Natural Resources in Law Enforcement and by the O.P.P. as a Search and Rescue instructor. Jim has represented the interests of the Pikwàkanagàn First Nation as a Band Court Representative regarding child welfare issues and has represented community members in Provincial Courts. In his spare time Jim enjoys the outdoors. Elected into Council in 1999, Jim is now entering his eighth year and serves as an ANR.

Richard Sarazin (Councillor, Pikwàkanagàn First Nation)

Ritchie has over 14 years experience working for the Department of Indian Affairs with Lands, Membership and Estates and most recently as Research Analyst/Dispositions coordinator with the Negotiations Department. Ritchie feels strongly about developing better economic opportunities in the community, keeping students in post secondary education and ensuring Elders are respected for their knowledge. As a councillor at Pikwàkanagàn, he serves as an ANR.

Vicky Two-Axe (Councillor, Pikwàkanagàn First Nation)

Vicky has 25 years of experience participating as a director for various Aboriginal organizations. She worked for the federal government for 15 years as a Program Officer and a Special Assistant to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. She owns and operates two businesses within the Pikwàkanagàn First Nation community and is a member of Council. She is a mother of three children and grandmother of three beautiful girls.

Kirby Whiteduck (Chief, Pikwàkanagàn First Nation, Golden Lake)

Kirby received a Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Anthropology from York University and has partially completed a Masters of Social Work from Carleton University. He is the author of ‘Algonquin Traditional Culture’, published in 2002, a book that details the traditional culture of the Algonquins of the Kitchissippi Valley at the early period of European contact. Outside of his education pursuits, Kirby has spent his career working for and with Pikwàkanagàn and First Nation organizations in a variety of capacities that have included being a native counselor, in education, in management of fish and wildlife and researching land claims and as a negotiator.   Kirby is now in his 5th year as Chief. Kirby lives in the community with his daughter Whitney ‘Ozhawanapinessi’ Sky Whiteduck and his son Frazer ‘Wabisheshi’ Lee Whiteduck.

Richard Zohr (Chief, Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation)

Richard has spent his entire adult life asserting and protecting the aboriginal rights of the Algonquin people. He began serving the community in his late teens, first as a board member and then as chairman of the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation (BAFN) governing council. Working for essential social and economic services, he successfully developed a housing and repair service, employment retraining programs and several economic development initiatives. Throughout his 25 years of leadership, Richard has developed a number of corporate bodies based on the concept of self determination to help improve the quality of life for the Algonquin people by instilling the importance of independence and rediscovering of the Algonquin's legacy. Richard has served as the elected Chief of the BAFN since 2003. The BAFN, which has a membership of over 1,800 people, has prepared an extensive genealogical and in depth history of its community dating back to the early 1600s. He is Vice President of the Algonquin National Tribal Council (ANTC) and is the elected ANR for BAFN. Richard is dedicated to the healing, rebuilding and strengthening of the Algonquin people.

Principal Negotiator and Senior Legal Counsel

The Ontario Algonquins negotiating team consists of 16 ANRs as well as the Principal Negotiator and Senior Legal Counsel.  The ANRs and the Principal Negotiator have assembled a team of experts to assist in developing a substantive negotiating position for upcoming negotiations with government and the many details associated with rebuilding as a proud First Nation.

Robert J. Potts

Other Advisers to the Negotiation Team

Alan Pratt

Alan acts as legal advisor to the Algonquins in Ontario and works closely with the Principal Negotiator.  After graduating from law school in 1982, Alan was asked to do some work for the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 1984 and very quickly developed a passion for the law as it relates to First Nations.  His law firm, Alan Pratt Law Firm, represents only First Nations and other aboriginal clients and has handled a wide variety of litigation on their behalf of at every level of court in Canada, including four appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada.  He has worked with First Nations groups in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories.  Alan lives in unceded Algonquin Territory on the Ottawa River.   Alan’s dream is expressed in the following manner: “I have never lost my hope that the law can be a tool to bring justice to First Nations. I have not given up on the idea that we can find a way to reconcile our differences. I continue to believe — often against the odds — that here, in Canada, we can show the world how different peoples can coexist together in harmony without having to give up who, deep down, they really are.”

Brad Heys, B.Comm., M.A., J.D., C.F.E.

Brad’s expertise is in the fields of economics and finance. Brad is a Vice President of NERA Economic Consulting, an international economic consulting firm. Brad, and his team at NERA, assist the Algonquins of Ontario in preparing an economic development plan for a comprehensive land claim negotiation. His other work with First Nations includes assisting a territorial government with its economic development initiatives and providing damage quantification expertise for specific claims negotiations in Alberta and Ontario. Brad also provides economic expertise for corporate clients and governments. He currently teaches a graduate level course in Economic Analysis of Law at the University of Toronto. Brad is a Certified Fraud Examiner and obtained his J.D. from the University of Toronto and an M.A. in Economics from Queen’s University and has completed the course requirements for his Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Toronto.

J. E. (Jim) Hunton, BES, MCIP, RPP

Jim graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Urban & Regional Planning with an Honors degree in Environmental Studies.  He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.  Jim has over 35 years experience in both urban and rural land use planning including project management and corporate responsibility for a wide variety of master plans, capital planning studies, development projects and environmental assessments.  He has worked closely with First Nation Project Teams and Communities on a wide variety of studies, assessments, funding applications and capital works projects since 1990.  In his current capacity as Vice President of Jp2g Consultants Inc., Jim leads a team of professionals providing support to the Technical Advisory Group and the Algonquin Negotiation Representatives in matters related to EDP Master Planning, land selection and conceptual planning as well as coordination of “receipt, review and response” to Government applications for consultation on matters requiring Algonquin input under the Interim .

Joan Holmes

Joan has been managing research projects on Aboriginal land claims and litigation since 1983. She has appeared as an expert witness in the Federal Court of Canada for major Aboriginal rights cases and at the Ipperwash Commission of Inquiry. Some of Joan’s areas of expertise include pre-Confederation Aboriginal history, application of Indian Act legislation, membership issues, establishment and management of reserve lands and First Nation assets, Non-Status and Métis issues. Publications and speaking engagements include Non-Status and Métis issues, First Nations pre-Confederation trade, Algonquian and Iroquoian history, Bill C-31 and various historical subjects.  Joan also facilitates training workshops on research techniques and issues. She and her team at Joan Holmes Associates Inc. in Ottawa has assembled an extensive historical study about the Ontario Algonquin claim.  Joan acts as the Enrolment Officer for those who wish to register as Algonquins.