Team

“My grandfather taught me that the Nakina River and the Sloko River come together in the same way that white people and native people should come together. My grandfather taught me the darker river (Nakina) was me (Tlingit) and the Sloko represented the white brothers. This is what the Nakina and Sloko coming together represent. This is a good example of how Mother Earth can teach us. She shows us how we should work together.”

-Jackie Williams, pg 2. Lingít Kusteeyí: What my Grandfather Taught Me.

Present Board Members & Staff

Vincent Esquiro (Desgi-kà) - President

Desgi-kà (Vincent) is a part of the Yanyeidi clan of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. Vincent is a dedicated leader with a passion for community development and social innovation. With a diverse background spanning over a decade in the Health,Wellness, and Social Development field, Vincent has made significant contributions to various organizations and initiatives. Vince has served the TRTFN in diverse multifaceted roles and impactful projects. His roles have varied from managing youth programs as Youth Coordinator for the TRTFN Social & Health Department, to spearheading negotiations on complex issues as TRTFN’s Assistant Negotiator, to fostering collaboration and innovation among Indigenous communities and their Provincial partners in his role as as Technical Representative for the 3 Nations Society Management Team. Vincent brings with him an entrepreneurial spirit that is evident in his successful ventures, including an entertainment company, a restaurant, and an Indigenous catering business. His dedication to promoting Indigenous culture and cuisine is reflected in all his business ventures. Vince currently resides in Whitehorse Yukon, where he works as the First Nation Partnership Specialist for the City of Whitehorse. Vincent’s unwavering commitment to community empowerment, social justice, and cultural preservation continue to inspire positive change and transformation within Indigenous communities and beyond.

Dennis Sizemore - Vice President

Dennis holds a BS from New Mexico State University in Wildlife Science and an MS from the University of Montana in Wildlife Ecology. His 40 years of conservation work experience includes law enforcement, management, education, and research. A co-founder of Round River, Dennis served as the organization’s executive director for 32 years. Dennis is former President of The Wildlands Project, a founding board member of the T’akhu  Tlèn Conservancy and a Board member of the Pax Natura Foundation.

Dennis has had an important role in many highly successful conservation initiatives including the Great Bear Rainforest Campaign, the Taku River Tlingit Wooshtin Wudidaa Agreements, the Bear Ears National Monument, and the Yukon North Slope Aullaviat Anaguniarvik Agreement.  He currently serves as a Principal of Escullia International

Scott Rehmus - Treasurer

Scott is a strategic philanthropist who has made a career in developing practical solutions to complex problems. A passion for the oceans led him into international conservation and then to dedicate himself to supporting coastal communities working to develop economies that maintain their culture and the environment. He spent 13 years building a sustainable future for the Great Bear Rainforest, first with the Packard Foundation and then co-leading two foundations that partnered with 27 First Nations to use $120M to create thriving communities and a thriving environment. In 2014, Scott shifted to apply his diverse knowledge and skills to unlock capital for cause, focusing on making it easy for individuals and families to maximize their positive impact by integrating all their financial and human capital.

Susan Carlick (Khoodéi Dukawdaneek) - Secretary

Susan has been a leader in the Tlingit community for many years. She represented the TRTFN as the lead negotiator of the TRTFN-BC Framework Agreement and Taku Agreements and served for many years as the G2G Forum Co-chair, and as a lead negotiator for the TRTFN Treaty Process. She is a past TRTFN Clan Director and past Manager of Fisheries, Lands and Resources. She has a deep understanding of the Taku Agreements and the dynamics in the community and with British Columbia.

Kaitlin Wilson - Director

As a geographer, Kaitlin has spent much of her life exploring the relationships between place, people and wildlife.  Her work has centered on a range of caribou issues, from Nunatsiavut to the Yukon, although these days that focus now includes grizzlies, moose, and salmon, too.  Underlying all of this work is a passion for supporting coexistence with our non-human neighbors, grounded in local governance, culture, and relationships.  Kaitlin holds a Master of Science in Environment and Life Sciences from Trent University, where she studied the drivers of home range size for caribou across northern Ontario.

Sarah Powell (Khein Klaa)- Director

Sarah Powell is a member of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, and is L’eeneidí (Dog Salmon). She grew up in Quesnel, BC and currently resides in Prince George, BC. Sarah graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Geography, and minoring in Indigenous Studies. She currently works as the Manager of Clean Energy Initiatives at the New Relationship Trust, where she also oversees the Guardians and Stewardship Training Initiative, and sits on the BC Indigenous Housing Society Board. Sarah has a passion for environmental conservation, mitigating climate change impacts, and Indigenous land stewardship. She is excited to bring her talents and enthusiasm for her traditional territory to this work.

Trevor Williams - Director

Trevor is a member of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation.  Growing up in Atlin, BC, he spent many of his summers as a youth in the Taku River Watershed and fishing on the Atlin Lake with his family.  Trevor joined the TRTFN Land Guardian program in 2013 and has been a key figure in the success of the program. Prior to joining the Land Guardians, Trevor worked in the TRTFN Fisheries Department for 7 years, first as a technician and then as the Fisheries Field Supervisor.  Trevor has also worked as a commercial salmon fisherman on the Taku River, in carpentry, and in surveying.

Aimee Schmidt - Executive Director

Aimee grew up in Atlin, BC. An avid hiker and backpacker, Aimee loves the land and wildlife in the Atlin area and will always call Atlin her home. She is very lucky to have worked seasonally as a grizzly bear viewing guide on the Nakina River for many years. In 2017, she completed her PhD in Environment & Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan. Aimee joined TAC as the Executive Director in January 2017. She currently lives in Whitehorse with her husband Mike and two young daughters, Ila and Maeve.

Carmen Nantel - Executive Assistant

As an administrative professional, Carmen’s career spans over several decades.  She has engaged in a variety of occupations, gaining diverse and varied experience with non-profits, government agencies, First Nations, and private sector businesses, as well as being self-employed.  She brings to TAC skills in administration, fundraising, and project management.  In her off time, Carmen enjoys various low impact recreational activities that enable her to continue exploring and connecting with nature.

Shirley Jack - Co-Program Manager

Shirley Jack is a Taku River Tlingit First Nation member, and a dedicated Program Manager, who resides in Atlin with her partner Steve Williams and their two children.  Currently graduated from an Indigenous Governance Degree at Yukon University and enrolled in an Indigenous Human Services Diploma at NVIT, Shirley demonstrates a strong commitment to growing and learning.  Her proficiency in academic skills is complimented by adept programming coordination skills, making her a valuable asset to any project.  Shirley finds fulfillment in serving the community, emphasizing a passion for engaging with and supporting community members.  In her leisure time, Shirley makes it a priority for her and her family to connect with the land, and to teach and immerse her children in the Tlingit way of life.  In both professional and personal pursuits, she embodies a holistic approach to community and cultural enrichment.

Shauna Yeomans-Lindstrom (Geehaadastee) - Co-Program Manager

Shauna is part of the Yanyeidi clan of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation.  Shauna is a TRTFN Land Guardian. She grew up in Atlin. Shauna has been involved in cultural activities, climate change and environmental awareness programs since her youth.  In 2016, she began working for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation as a Land Guardian.  As a guardian, she has acquired an extensive background and interest in Indigenous-led conservation and nationhood, the National Guardian Network, and food security.  In 2021 Shauna was selected to be a part of the Youth First Nations Climate Action Fellowship, a 20 month program that aims to uphold youth as they reconnect with their culture and identity to explore climate action. Shauna is passionate about cultural revitalization and reconnecting Tlingit youth to their traditional practices.  Shauna served as a President of the TAC Board of Directors between 2018 -2025. In 2025, she joined the TAC Team as a staff member in the role of Joint Program Manager with Shirley Jack.

Our Partners

We sincerely thank the following partners who have generously supported our organization and projects: