Chief & Council
Cheif Terry Richardson
Platinum Jubilee Medal Recipient
My name is Terry Richardson, and I have been Chief of Pabineau First Nation since April 2020. Before that, I was a councillor for the community for 8 years, worked as Mi’kmaq benefits manager for Trevali Mining, where I provided guidance in the development of an underground mining program for First Nation members in New Brunswick, as well as a mill operator course—both of which were offered by the New Brunswick Community College. In that role, I was also responsible for contracting opportunities for First Nation communities and recruiting for employment opportunities as they arose at the mine. I also served 25 years in the Canadian Forces and had the opportunity to travel this great country of Canada from coast to coast. I am fluently bilingual and live in my beautiful community of Pabineau First Nation.
I have had the pleasure to sit on the board for Health Vitalité as well as the board for the University of Moncton. In my time as Chief in Pabineau, I have given my honorarium back to the community, resulting in my giving back over 100K in the last four years.
During my time in Pabineau, I was in charge of the Capital Construction portfolio and had the opportunity to take on many files, including the construction of our Health Center as well as our POW WOW grounds. Also, I had the opportunity to start the work on our water treatment facility.
The Canadian Forces provided me with many of the skills that I have been able to bring forward into my present role. I was able to achieve a 2-year administration course through Seneca College in Nova Scotia as well. I have experienced three tours of operation in my time in the military, and those tours taught me the importance of negotiations and how to sit and discuss issues to resolve them in a peaceful and respectful manner.
Leadership is about teamwork, and we are fortunate to have a strong team in Pabineau. As we work to grow our community, we realize that it is important to provide the essentials to our band members to make their lives better. Housing and jobs continue to be at the forefront, as well as education and health. Not only do we have strong team leadership, but also a strong team of community employees at all levels. We look forward to our term with great anticipation as we grow economically and continue to address our community needs.
As 2024 comes to an end, we are looking at another four years with our present team, and we realize that although we have achieved much, there is still a lot to be done. We continue to establish the strong ties we have with our adjacent municipalities and look at growing our economic portfolio, as this is what will allow Pabineau to become less reliant on federal and provincial funding. We have our gas station on Vanier Blvd up and running and a strip mall that will be completed by 2024. We are heavily involved in the green energy hub at the Port of Belledune and the opportunities that the development will bring in the sectors of SMNR (Small Module Nuclear Reactors), Hydrogen, Battery Storage, and Clean Steel, as well as many other developments.
In closing, we invite members from our surrounding communities to attend events in our community and experience our hospitality. We are proud of Pabineau and enjoy showing our community to all those who visit.
We have taken the mantle from past leaders and are moving our community positively. We look forward to growing economically and are always open to opportunities that will allow Pabineau to develop even more.
Councillor Susan Ducasse
(formerly Motty)
Becoming a Councillor for Pabineau First Nations felt like the truest homecoming.
Growing up, I lived in Montreal with my family. My parents took every opportunity they could to return to our roots and travel the world. We had our traditions sewn into us while gaining a broader world perspective. We grew up knowing who we are and the origin of our history.
One of my favourite memories was sitting with all my cousins, listening to Uncle Gilbert sharing stories. These stories were the history of our ancestors, legends and folklore told by one of the most vibrant members of our community.
The years spent living in various provinces were utilized for amassing experience and business savvy. Those skills have helped me with my organizational abilities. I can organize anything. From building a home to creating a memorable Christmas party, I feel that my years of experience have equipped me to tackle any challenge.
Some of the first noteworthy projects I have had the privilege to collaborate on are:
Water treatment system
– Assisting the water operator in maintaining the system. This means we coordinate with ISC and Health Canada to ensure everything is running correctly to provide the community with safe water. Upgrading our landscaping
– Sacred Garden
– Maintaining our community’s outdoor spaces and assisting our elders.
(Snow removal, lawn mowing, flower beds)Communal roads
– All of the street care services; we monitor potholes, snow removal, monitoring pavement and chip-sealed environmental protection
– Sustainability of natural resources
– Monitoring flood zones and erosion and designation
– Addition to reserve
– Acquiring land for the expansion and furthering the development of the community over power pole management,
– Working with NB Power to maintain the power lines and ensure our community meets the latest safety standards. Asset management planning to work with INAC, CMHC, Health Canada, JEDI, FNIIP, and ACRE is a challenging but rewarding opportunity I face daily.
To accomplish these projects, I need to present an airtight plan of how we will acquire and use resources appropriately to complete projects. I ensure the resources are spent in the right places and that we never let greed surpass the greater good of the community.
My vision moving forward is to bring a flowing stream of possibilities and opportunities for Pabineau. Even though I own another business, I get up daily and pour my heart and soul into this community. Together we can change the future of our community. We can rise like the phoenix from the ashes, we can repair what’s broken, we can amend mistakes, we can overcome trauma, and we will lead the way to positive change. We can and will use our stories and voices to lift each other for a more abundant Pabineau.
Councillor Jim Richardson
Cert. Bus Admin, Bcomm, MBA
A member of the Mi´kmaq reserve of Pabineau, New Brunswick, Jim has served as a senior officer with the Canadian Armed Forces and has a variety of experience at the senior level in Government and the private sector. The first Aboriginal graduate in Queen’s MBA in residence program, Jim has experience as a CEO, a chief financial officer, and a lender with a bank in cash management, including hedging in multiple currencies and spot market transactions, auditing, marketing, project management, program delivery and operations, strategic planning and all aspects of financial and human resources management.
Until recently, Jim lived and volunteered in the Amazon basin in Peru. He assumed the role of economic development officer in January 2020, and after the April 2020 Pabineau First Nation election, he was elected Councillor with ongoing responsibility for economic development. He was a member of the Government sponsored Task Force on Aboriginal Development Financing where he chaired the Regulatory Issues Sub-Committee, he served on a number of ad hoc committees at the National level, and he was a frequent guest lecturer at the Banff Centre for Management in their Aboriginal Financial Management Program. Jim is married to Rossana and has four children Deborah, Scott, Robbie and Guanluca.
More on Jim Richardson:
Councillor Carolyn Fraser
Throughout my campaign to pursue the councillor position, I vowed to give the community’s people a chance to live the healthiest, most fulfilling life, even when the stakes are challenging. Our community faces homelessness, poverty, unemployment, addictions, low income, food bank shortages, etc.
I am a representative of my people. Growing up, I didn’t face the same challenges my community may have faced as children and families. THIS TERRIFIED ME when I moved back to Pabineau as a teenager, knowing full well that my cousins had been taken into foster care. That is a part of our history that we will never forget. Even though I did not experience it, I strongly empathize with my connections within the community that did. My heart breaks for the history of foster care, which is the root in my heart for empowering our people. I have been on the reserve since the early 1980s and have watched jobs become more available. Our community has increased our efforts in working together and improving resources for young families. Together we have built up the seafood market, gas bar, and a stronger, more unified voice. As we continue to work together, more exciting opportunities are on the horizon.
A few ways that I, as the Health Liaison/Councillor, work with the community is to coordinate with the healing team to facilitate community events. Through sickness and in health, I work with our team to ensure that the community is enriched, encouraged, mentored and healed during life’s highs and lows. A few examples of this is when a community member passes away, we come together to offer support and resources for all that are grieving. With COVID-19, we organized educational resources and vaccination distribution throughout the community. Our Walk-in Breakfast is one of our favourite events, although missed during this season. Pabineau would gather with the locals to share over breakfast. The RCMP and other organizations would frequently join in to spend quality time getting to know our people. We encourage this because we wanted to foster positive relationships with the RCMP and other members who help facilitate the breakfast. I believe that I play an essential role as being the go-to player. When we are in need, I will be there creating a common unity with support, love and prosperity at the forefront.
Some past positions I have held positions that make me an asset to this team are the Pabineau First Nation Band, Home Aide worker for the care of elders and persons with disabilities. I am ASIST trained, and I am trained as a Doula. I was also instrumental in reviving the Children’s Oral Health Initiative Program. I am very involved in the Healing Team partnership of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls & 2 Spirited LGBTQ+. I coordinate our promotional events. I am a full-time board member of the Chaleur Resource Center for parents. All of these programs aim at promoting communication, family literacy, the development of emotional ties, health, and safety.
I will often say:
“I want everyone in the community to have a chance”.
To me, this means we are always moving forward to a brighter future.