Charlene Aleck
Charlene Aleck is a matriarch of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), the "People of the Inlet," whose homelands lie along Burrard Inlet in what is now North Vancouver. She is the granddaughter of the late Chief Dan George, and she carries his legacy of speaking for the land, the water and her people. After an early career as an actor, she became a cultural preschool teacher and went on to serve multiple terms as an elected councillor for her Nation. As a spokesperson for the Tsleil-Waututh Sacred Trust Initiative, she has been a leading voice for the protection and restoration of the lands and waters her people have cared for since time immemorial. She is a mother and grandmother, and she brings to Thrive a deep understanding of family, community and the teachings that connect generations.