The Lake Babine First Nation (LBN) near Burns Lake recently welcomed a new executive director. Describing himself as a kind of operations manager for the affairs of the nation, Joseph Gosnell, brings 13 years of First Nations administrative experience to the position.
Originally from the Terrace area, Gosnell is a member of the Nisga’a nation. His father is Joseph Arthur Gosnell, a widely honoured and distinguished Nisga’a leader.
Gosnell began his career with First Nations governments in 2000, when he worked under the new Nisga’a treaty. The Nisga’a ‘Final Agreement”, signed in 2000 was B.C.’s first modern treaty.
“The treaty was just signed,” said Gosnell. “It was my job as an executive director to transition everything that had been managed and administered under Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development to self-governance.”
Little more than a month ago, Gosnell arrived in Burns Lake to take on his position with LBN.
It has been a whirlwind introduction to Burns Lake - he hasn’t had time to furnish his Burns Lake residence yet - but Gosnell is excited to be working with LBN. Although it is too early for him to be specific about details, he expects to be involved in ongoing LBN treaty negotiations.
His first priority will be to deal with the collapsed school gymnasium roof in Fort Babine.
Gosnell’s philosophy when it comes to administration is down to earth.
“Take care of your foundation and your finances first,” he said. “The first question for anything that hits the table is, did we budget for it?”
Every First Nations community faces its own particular challenges and circumstances. With Burns Lake as the hub for First Nations communities in the area, he said that whatever impacts the Village of Burns Lake will have a ripple effect throughout all communities, especially the smaller nations that struggle with isolation and tiny administrative budgets.
Conversely, what benefits local First Nations can benefit other communities as well.
“I see a lot of opportunity,” he said. “If the village continues to work with LBN to improve and strengthen the working relationship, there are endless opportunities that can be entered into.”
For now, Gosnell looks forward to developing his role within LBN.