The Finance Committee advises Tla’amin Executive Council and the Legislative Assembly on financial matters, supporting sound decision-making in how the Tla’amin Nation manages its finances.
Financial planning
The Finance Committee is responsible for:
- Reviewing and recommending short, medium, and long-term strategic, operational, business, and financial plans to Executive Council
- Reviewing draft annual budgets and recommending them for approval
- Monitoring the Nation’s financial performance against the annual budget and flagging significant variations to Executive Council
- Reviewing quarterly financial statements and recommending them for approval
- Overseeing the development of an investment policy for the Fish Fund and directing how those funds are invested
- Reviewing proposed changes to the Nation’s accounting and financial reporting systems and recommending approval where appropriate
- Reporting to Executive Council on the adequacy of financial administration staff and resources
- Reviewing and reporting on the Nation’s insurance coverage for significant risks
- Providing reports to Executive Council or the Legislative Assembly as requested
The Committee may also raise any financial administration matter with Executive Council or the Legislative Assembly, even if it falls outside its specific listed responsibilities.
Audit responsibilities
The Finance Committee also oversees the Nation’s audit activities, including:
- Recommending the selection and evaluating the performance of the Nation’s auditor
- Confirming the independence of the appointed auditor
- Reviewing the planning, conduct, and results of audit activities
- Reviewing audited annual financial statements and making recommendations to the Legislative Assembly
- Periodically reviewing expense reimbursement and perquisite policies for elected officials and staff
- Monitoring financial reporting and fraud risks, and the effectiveness of controls in place to manage them
- Periodically reviewing this Law and the Committee’s own terms of reference, and recommending updates where appropriate
Members of the Finance Committee
Cyndi Egan Chair
Cyndi Egan is honoured to serve as chair of the Tla’amin Finance Committee. She is a Tla’amin citizen living and working in Victoria B.C. She brings over 30 years experience as a Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified General Accountant. The majority of her career has been spent with government and in public practice.
In her spare time she enjoys reading and being outdoors, spending time with her grandkids and hiking with her rescue dog.
Hegus John Hackett Vice Chair
John Hackett was born and raised within Tla’amin Territory and resides in the t̓išosəm community. He attended Nicola Valley Institute of Technology from 2002-2004 to complete the Natural Resource Technology Diploma Program. Upon completion he joined Sliammon Treaty Society to develop the Tla’amin Wildlife Harvest Plan to support Tla’amin’s Land and Water Use Plan. He also observed hands-on negotiations between Tla’amin Nation and the Provincial and Federal Governments.
In 2006, he transitioned to the Tla’amin Forestry Department to manage the Nation’s woodlot, and in 2006 he was elected to Council for our Nation. He held this seat for 14 years till 2020, when he was elected as Hegus of Tla’amin Nation, a position he holds today.
Melissa Louie
Melissa Louie, Ga’axsta’las, is a Citizen of Tla’amin Nation (Coast Salish) with Syilx ancestry and family ties to the Penticton Indian Band. Called to the bar in 2008, she is a founding partner of Nogala Law Group, focusing on Aboriginal rights and title. Melissa was instrumental in writing the Tla’amin Treaty and brings deep experience in treaty and reconciliation agreement negotiation, implementation, and nation-building work including drafting Indigenous laws. On the international stage, she supports the North American Representative to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Losa Luaifoa
Losa is a Tla’amin Citizen with two decades of executive experience in First Nation and municipal governments. Formerly executive secretary at the city of Surrey and Tsawwassen Nation, Losa is the Executive Council member responsible for Finance and Administration. She serves on Finance and Economic Development Committees.