Commissioner Bios

The Treaty Commission's impartiality and ability to provide a balanced perspective is reflected in its composition and the way it makes decisions. Commissioners do not represent the Principals that appoint them, but act independently. Decisions require the support of one appointee of each of the Principals.

The First Nations Summit appoints two commissioners and the federal and provincial governments appoint one each. The chief commissioner is appointed to a three-year term by agreement of the three parties. The four part-time commissioners serve two-year terms.

Sophie Pierre
Sophie Pierre is a respected leader among BC First Nations. Prior to her appointment as chief commissioner, Pierre led the St. Mary's Indian Band for 30 years as elected chief and was the administrator of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council for 25 years. She also served as the tribal chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, chairperson of the First Nations Finance Authority, president of St. Eugene Mission Holdings Ltd. and co-chair of the International Advisory Committee to the Indigenous Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy for the University of Arizona. Pierre was involved in the work of the British Columbia Claims Task Force and served as a co-chair of the First Nations Summit. She has also served on several boards and committees, including the Environmental and Aboriginal Relations Committee of the BC Hydro & Power Authority and the First Nations Congress. Pierre was recognized with the Order of British Columbia in 2002 and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the business category in 2003.
Robert Phillips
Robert Phillips was elected by First Nations Summit delegates to a third, two-year term as commissioner in March 2011. Phillips is a member of the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (Shuswap) of the Canim Lake First Nation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University College of the Fraser Valley. Phillips served as Chief Negotiator and prior to that as Self-Government Director at the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council since 1998. He also has an extensive background in aboriginal justice and economic development.
Jerry Lampert
Jerry Lampert was appointed in December 2007 by the Government of Canada and re-appointed to a two-year term in December 2009. Lampert served for 15 years as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of British Columbia, where he was a vocal advocate for developing better business relationships with First Nations in British Columbia. Prior to joining the Business Council, Lampert was a principal in a government relations/public affairs consulting firm offering strategic and tactical advice to private sector corporations in their dealings with governments. He served as Chief of Staff to two Premiers of British Columbia and managed two successful provincial election campaigns in British Columbia. He has held many key political organization and advisory positions.
Dave C. Haggard
Dave Haggard was appointed to a two-year term in February 2008 by the Government of British Columbia and re-appointed in February 2010. A long-time labour leader and forestry advocate, Haggard has extensive experience facilitating negotiations with industry, labour, government and First Nations. Haggard has worked with a number of Vancouver Island First Nations, including the Maa-nulth.  He was first elected in 1996 as national president of the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada and has served as vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress and the B.C. Federation of Labour. Born in Kamloops and raised in Barriere, Haggard’s grandmother was a member of Simpcw First Nation (Chu Chua) located by the North Thompson River. He is married to Eileen, a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation.
Celeste A. Haldane

Celeste Haldane was elected by the First Nation Summit delegates in March 2011 to serve a two-year term. Haldane, is a member of the Sparrow family from the Musqueam Indian Band.  She also has Tsimshian roots in Metlakatla. She previously served as the Treaty Manager for the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. Haldane, has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Anthropology (2000) and a Bachelor of Laws (2004) both degrees are from the University of British Columbia.  She is a practising lawyer and was called to the BC Bar in 2005. She is currently completing a Masters in Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.M.).  She is married to a very supportive husband and they are raising three children together.