Walter Janvier - Vice President
Walter Janvier is a member of Chipewyan Prairie First Nation (CPFN) from Fort McMurray, Alberta, and owner of Prairie North Enterprises, a construction company based in Fort McMurray. He served as Chief of CPFN from 1983 to 2006, during which time he settled land claims, secured traditional lands, and initiated consultations with the Government of Alberta, Canada, and the oil, gas, and forestry industries in the Fort McMurray area. Walter played a key role in creating the Athabasca Tribal Council and Treaty 8 in 1985–1986 and led the research and implementation of the Cows and Plows Settlement for western Canada in 2001.
Walter speaks fluent Dene, is a residential school survivor, and is a proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He enjoys learning Indigenous history and legends by sharing and listening with elders and other nations. An outdoors enthusiast, Walter enjoys hunting, fishing, and trapping. He remains deeply passionate about Indigenous issues, including homelessness, missing and murdered Indigenous women, residential schools, and broader political topics affecting Indigenous communities.