ABOUT NAFA - BOARD OF DIRECTORS - STAFF - STRATEGY - BYLAWS (pdf)

Bradley Young, Executive Director 
byoung@nafaforestry.org

Mr. Bradley Young is an Opaskwayak Cree from the end of the North Saskatchewan River in present day northern Manitoba. A graduate from programs at the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, and the University of Victoria where he holds a Master's Degree in Indigenous Governance. Partially finished with a doctorate in Indigenous Governance, he has successfully supervised one Master's student to completion and has travelled and studied internationally, exploring indigenous rights and development. Most recently he co-chaired a bilateral round table between Russia and Canada in the Khabarovsk Krai of the Russian Federation.

As a professional Mr. Young has led Aboriginal natural resource development initiatives in the northern Rocky Mountains and has spoken extensively on indigenous rights, culture, consultation, development, and nation building. This includes being the formative director of the Aboriginal Involvement Program of the Foothills Model Forest and also leading confidential negotiations between Aboriginal Peoples and the natural resource sector.

Peggy Smith, R.P.F, Senior Advisor 
pasmith@lakeheadu.ca

Dr. M.A. (Peggy) Smith is an Assistant Professor in Lakehead University's Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment. She teaches forest policy and legislation, environmental assessment, contemporary forest issues and Aboriginal peoples and the forest environment.  
 
Her research interests and expertise focus on the social impacts of forest management, including Aboriginal peoples' involvement in forest management, community forestry, public participation, northern development and forest certification.  
 
She received her Ph.D. in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto in 2007. She is a Registered Professional Forester who graduated from the Faculty of Forestry at Lakehead University in 1991.  
 
She considers herself privileged to be a part of the growing number of people of Aboriginal ancestry (Cree) graduating from Canadian forestry schools. Peggy continues her longstanding affiliation as Senior Advisor with the National Aboriginal Forestry Association whose goal is to increase Aboriginal participation in the forest sector.

Janet Pronovost, Executive Administrator 
janet@nafaforestry.org

Janet is a Mohawk from Kahnawake, Quebec. She is responsible for the general office management and day-to-day operations of NAFA. Her friendly voice is what our membership has grown so accustomed to hearing when calling our office and she takes great pleasure in making sure they are taken care of. Janet maintains the NAFA membership database and ensures that members receive regular updates. She has been the key organizer for NAFA meetings and conferences. She has worked at NAFA for 30 yrs.