Pictured: Pat Charlie (left) and Virginia Peters (right)
FNHDA has a new Interim Elder Advisor! We are honored to have Virginia Peters as the new Interim Elder Advisor. An Honoring Ceremony was held on September 28, 2016, during the Gala Dinner at the Annual General Meeting to welcome Virginia into this new role.
Virginia (Ginny) was one of the founding FNHDA Board members. She has committed the past 6 years to the creation and development of the Association. Our Board relies on her, based on her many years of experience in the field and different roles she has held, and as a Health Director. Ginny plans to retire in March and will stepping down from her role as Secretary-Treasurer for the FNHDA Board of Directors. Ginny’s dedication, kind leadership, and beautiful way of bringing resolution to the group have been a real treasure to FNHDA and the Board.
Virginia Peters is an Elder whose parents were William and Nancy Phillips from Chehalis, BC. Her immediate family consists of 3 daughters, 2 sons, 11 grandchildren, 6 foster grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. She has a large extended family (definitely over 1,500). Her family is very close-knit and is strongly linked with the extended family.
Coming from a strong matriarchal system, Ginny’s professional life began with several years of volunteering. She began Community Services in 1960. The Community Services she was involved with at Chehalis included Religion (Church) Committee, Longhouse, Youth Group, Youth Native Dance Group, School Board, Band Councilor (4 terms), Chief (1 term), and Social Development Portfolio (Sto:lo Tribal Council). Her professional experience started in 1972 and included Secretary/ Bookkeeper, Manager of Health, Social Development and Family Services, Coordinating Health Transfer Plans, Coordinating Special Projects and Accounting.
Being a family and community oriented person, Ginny continues to dedicate much time and effort to assist in the community development and healing. She firmly believes that culture and spirituality is the key to healing and rebuilding the strength of our families and communities.
We are so lucky to have Ginny continue with FNHDA as the Interim Elder Advisor!