K̓áwáziɫ Marilyn Slett has served as the elected chief councillor of the Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation since 2008, having previously been an elected councillor and the council’s executive director. “I believe effective governance blends Haíɫzaqv values with the modern realities of self-governance. Like many other First Nations we wrestle with significant constraints such as a lack of funding, the constraints of the Indian Act, and a lack of economic opportunities. Effective governance is the foundation on which we build our aspirations. It is only the Haíɫzaqv who can determine the best way for our community to contribute to important decisions. Our vision of shared, long-term goals charts the course from where we are to where we want to be. It is relevant to those in the present time and to those in the future generations.”