Board & Governance Updates

YFNCT is pleased to announce Board of Director updates within YFNCT.

Amber Berard-Althouse — Board President 

Amber Berard-Althouse, a Tlingit woman from Kluane First Nation, is the founder of The Land Heals, a business rooted in healing, nature, and Yukon First Nations history and culture. She leads cultural walking tours, facilitates First Nations 101 at the Yukon University, and offers workshops in interpretation, yoga, plant medicine, and land acknowledgments. Amber’s work empowers others through storytelling, connection to land, and community-based healing.   

 

 

 

Marilyn Jensen — Vice-Chair 

Marilyn Jensen, a Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizen, is a leader in Indigenous tourism, cultural revitalization, and community empowerment. She previously served as YFNCT Board President for nine years and currently serves as Chair of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, championing authentic representation and sustainable growth in Indigenous tourism nationally. As founder of the award-winning Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, Marilyn has shared the strength of Inland Tlingit and Tagish culture internationally. Through her company, Lateral Kindness Inc., she continues to elevate Indigenous voices and foster healing through storytelling, governance, and cultural connection. 

 

 

Albert Drapeau — Treasurer 

Albert Drapeau, a Selkirk First Nation citizen of the Wolf Clan with French and Finnish heritage. Albert was raised in Mayo, Yukon, surrounded by community and family. He learned the value of hard work, volunteering, and achieving personal bests during his formative years. From a young age, Albert has always been creative, and his interests evolved with water colour, acrylic, and oil painting, as well as beading and making regalia for his family. Albert believes in supporting others, setting goals for personal achievement, learning and teaching new skills and techniques.  Albert is honoured to be named as a Director for the Yukon First Nation Culture and Tourism. 

 

 

Heather Bell-Callaghan — Board Director 

Heather Bell-Callaghan is a Łingít artist and community economic developer based in Dakwakada (Haines Junction), Yukon. She is an Economic Development Manager and is currently completing her MBA in Community Economic Development at Cape Breton University. Heather previously worked with the Yukon Department of Tourism and Culture in the Marketing Unit, promoting Yukon businesses to an international audience. She also serves on the Yukon Tourism Advisory Board and is President of the Northern Cultural Expressions Society. Heather is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs (in all sectors), makers and creatives in being capable, sovereign, and successful. Her view is that tourism in 2025 onwards is more about economic reconciliation, learning and meaningful education. The shift has come and it is a good one. 

 

Pauly Sias — Board Director 

Pauly Sias, a Kluane First Nation citizen, has lived her life in Lhù’ààn Mân Keyí – Kluane Lake Country and she is passionate about sharing her knowledge about the people’s history and the natural environmental changes of the region. Over the course of her career, Pauly has held the positions such as Heritage Manager and Executive Director for Kluane First Nation, Heritage Presenter and Aboriginal Liaison for Kluane National Park and Reserve, and Executive Director for Dän Keyi Renewable Resource Council. Guided by her work and personal interests, she has had many opportunities to gain greater insight and broaden perspectives. Pauly has actively been an advocate for her nation and the natural environment throughout all the positions she has held, and she continues to do so, now through her and her partner, Jady Hurlburt’s business Kluane Outdoor Inspirations.   

It is Pauly’s pleasure to share the knowledge as it was shared with her and in doing so, to help keep passing on cultural traditions through the art of storytelling.   
 

Montana Prysnuk — Board Director 

Montana Prysnuk, is a citizen of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation with ties to Inuvialuit on her mother’s side, as well as Ukrainian and Scandinavian heritage. She is a firm believer in art and culture as a form of healing and connection to yourself, one another and the land. Finding deep connection through artwork, hide tanning and her Gwitchin traditions has been a guiding force in Montana’s life.   

She has been creating art and jewelry for 15+ years, and in 2019 officially created Copper Caribou with her sister Delaney. Together they work, create art, tan hides and host hide tanning camps for others to connect and learn, often travelling to communities. A main focus of Copper Caribou is engaging with Indigenous youth and developing positive mental health practices through cultural activities, on the land learning and traditional knowledge.   

YFNCT has been a constant supporter of Copper Caribou’s journey and Montana hopes to connect with First Nation artists, and support where needed. She is excited to see what the future brings and grateful for this opportunity to be a new board member.   
 

Delaney Prysnuk — Board Director 

Delaney Prysnuk, is a Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation citizen with ties to Inuvialuit, as well as Ukrainian and Scandinavian heritage. Delaney is an artist and entrepreneur who co-owns and operates Copper Caribou Creations alongside her sister, Montana. Delaney focuses on her connection to culture by creating wearable art through the craft of hide tanning. Within this realm, she works to promote positive mental health by engaging in cultural practices in the form of hosting hide tanning camps to allow others space and opportunity to learn in a safe space- now a foundational component of Copper Caribou.   

Delaney has also worked in the heritage industry for 15 years, most recently collaborating with First Nations to build capacity and document cultural heritage sites. Delaney is dedicated to empowering Indigenous youth to recognize the value of documenting their own histories and to see their voices as vital threads within those living narratives. She is proud to sit on the Board with the other Directors at YFNCT.