Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries

Kevin Chief is the principal of Chief Partnerships Manitoba. He is currently Community Ambassador for the Southern Chiefs' Organization, chairperson for the Centre of Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc., and Senior Advisor at True North Sports and Entertainment. Kevin brings a commitment to community and leadership development through his dedication to education, training, and employment.

Verna Demontigny is a proud Métis knowledge keeper, fluent Michif speaker, and enthusiastic advocate for preserving her language and culture. She was born and raised in the traditional Métis community of Fouillard’s Corner (Li Kwayn in Michif), near Binscarth, Manitoba. Verna’s family history is rooted in Ste. Madeleine, a Métis community near the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border that was displaced during government evictions in the 1930s.

A proud Métis professional with more than 17 years of experience, Jamie Dumont is the principal and owner of Chadwick Consulting. The firm specializes in Indigenous and northern economic development, strategic planning, communications, and workshop facilitation. She is a leader in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and diversity and inclusion strategies, with extensive expertise in Indigenous governance, government processes, and community consultation.

Alan Greyeyes is the festival director for the sākihiwē festival (formerly Aboriginal Music Week), an Aboriginal Music Manitoba production. Describing himself as a music-industry helper, Alan also serves on the Indigenous Music Office board of directors, as well as the Indigenous committees at the National Music Centre and Winnipeg Folk Festival. 

In 2023, Alan received the Making a Difference award from the Winnipeg Arts Council and earned the Arts Award of Distinction from the Manitoba Arts Council in 2020. Alan is a member of the Peguis First Nation.
 

An Inuk woman from Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, Nikki Komaksiutiksak is president and CEO of Ottawa based Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada. She was a founder and the chief executive officer of Tunngasugit Inc, Western Canada’s first Inuit resource centre, in Winnipeg. Nikki preserves her “Inukness” even as she calls Winnipeg her home. She is active in the city’s Inuit community and uses her knowledge and understanding to help Inuit moving to “the big city” from the north. 

Trevor LaForte is the executive director of the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre (WASAC). A proud off-reserve member of the Sagkeeng First Nation, Trevor enjoys many sport activities and has worked within the Indigenous sport community for 25 years. In addition to his work at WASAC, he served as the finance coordinator for the 2002 North American Indigenous Games in Winnipeg. 

Trevor has a Business Administration diploma from Red River College and is honoured to serve on the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Indigenous Advisory Circle.
 

Gina Smoke is the director of Indigenous relations with Unifor, Canada's largest private-sector union. She has long been a leader in her community and workplaces, tirelessly fighting for those without voice. Gina loves to use her lived experience to contribute to education, to projects, and to making a difference wherever possible. 

When Gina’s not working you will find her doing what she can to help those without shelter. Or you just might see her on a softball diamond, usually playing catcher.
 

Clayton Swanton is a partner at Johnston and Company Law Office in Dauphin, Manitoba, specializing in real-estate and corporate transactions. He brings to the MBLL Board a strong legal foundation, strategic thinking, and a lifelong dedication to enriching life in rural Manitoba.