Meet the members of səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) Chief and Council. Their term runs from July 1, 2025, to June 29, 2029.
To contact TWN Chief and Council, please reach out to Brenda Simms at bsimms@twnation.ca.
2025 – 2029 Elected səlilwətaɬ Chief & Council Members
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- Chief Justin Sky George
- Councillor Curtis Thomas
- Councillor Deanna George
- Councillor James Sandover
- Councillor Kalila George-Wilson
- Councillor Nicholas Kofi
- Councillor Dennis Thomas “Whonoak”
kwitsém, Justin Sky George has a deep-rooted love and respect, and a strong vision of empowerment, for his səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) family and Nation.
The grandson of Amy (Jack) George and Chief Dan George, and son of Susan and the late former Chief Leonard George, Justin was raised in a family rooted in culture and community, surrounded by Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins who taught him about love, healing, unity, culture, and collective strength.
Justin understands that, as Tsleil-Wautt people, we must walk together with humility and honour our Elders and our Ancestors, who endured so much. Their teachings paved the way for us: We must continue their legacy, and that of our past leadership, who have contributed to the growth of our Nation, grounded in our values and collectively building for today and for our future generations. Alone you may go faster, but together we will go further.
Previously, Justin was an elected səlilwətaɬ Councillor for 14 years, four of those years were as Chief. He has worked in TWN’s Economic Development Department for eight years as a negotiator and leading Nation-owned businesses. He is a successful business owner with an entrepreneurial spirit.
He is truly humbled and inspired by his community and the rich culture of səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and is honoured to be of service to səlilwətaɬ Members over the next four years.
Curtis was born and raised in səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and is very proud to call it home.
His parents are Ed and Lynn Thomas and he is the middle son. Curtis’ grandparents are Les and Rose Thomas on his father Ed’s side, and Ken and Bernadette Helfrich on his mother Lynn’s side.
He is the owner of Warrior Plumbing and has worked in the industry for 21 years. Curtis is also a co-founder of Kwasen Enterprises, alongside his business partner Dennis Thomas, and is proud of what they have accomplished to date.
Curtis is a member of the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) Board of Directors, and sits on the MST Steering Committee, of which he was previously Chair in 2024.
Curtis is extremely honoured to be elected for his third term of Council, and is very excited to work with fellow distinguished Chief and Council members. He looks forward to being a positive voice in the community, and to help others understand that we are all stronger when we stand together.
Deanna B. George was born and raised here on səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) traditional territory. Deanna is the youngest of four children to late Hereditary Chief Ernie George and Deanna D. George. Deanna and her spouse Bill have four children and five grandchildren who all live work and play within səlilwətaɬ.
Deanna has been on TWN Elected Council for four two-year terms from 2013 to 2019, and is now in her second four-year term (2021-2025 and now 2025-2029) under the First Nations Election Act (FNEA). Over time, Deanna has led on changes and learnings relevant to Membership’s needs within our Administration.
Deanna has been on the Board of Directors for the Nautsa’mawt Tribal Council (NmTC) since 2013, and was part of the Executive from 2015 – 2021. Recently, Deanna has moved to the economic development side of NmTC, which is the Natural Resource Group (NRG) and is now a Board member for NRG and also sits on the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) for NmTC.
James Sandover is honoured to serve səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) as a Councillor. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is currently taking the Indigenous Business Leadership Executive MBA at Simon Fraser University, where he will graduate in the spring of 2026.
James’s professional career began in 2012 in the banking sector, a position he acquired while studying at Capilano University. This role provided him with a solid foundation in personal finance, operations, and client relations.
In 2018, he felt ready to bring those skills back to the Nation. He has since worked for Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s business, Inlailawatash, focusing on economic development and business operations. He manages the Nation-owned Commercial Fishing Enterprise, Salish Seas, jointly owned with two other Nations and serves on the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s negotiation team within the Economic Development Department.
Now in 2025, as a newly elected member of the Chief and Council, he is eager to give back to the community that raised him. In this leadership role, he hopes to translate the Nation’s core values into our vision for the future, focusing on advancing the Nation’s economic sovereignty and creating avenues for future generations by strengthening Nation-led businesses and partnerships.
Outside of his professional and leadership commitments, James enjoys spending time with his family and staying active through sports, including basketball, softball and golf.
Kalila George-Wilson is a Member of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). She is the daughter of Leah George-Wilson and Michael Wilson. She is the granddaughter of late Ernest Ignatius George and Deanna D. George nee: Joseph.
Kalila is a former British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Female Youth Representative as well as Member and Executive Member of the AFN National Youth Council.
She is currently a language and culture consultant as well as a mentor at Culturally Committed, providing mentorship and relationship building with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies.
She has been working and learning to speak and teach the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Hul’q’umi’num’ languages. She also can understand all three halkomelem dialects: hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, hul’q’umi’num and halq’eméylem. She has travelled to New Zealand and taught at a Te Kura Kaupapa Māori an immersion school, where she learned Te Reo Māori immersion style and taught those students the three dialects of halkomelem.
Kalila hopes that one day we can all be multilingual again, speaking all of our traditional dialects. Ensuring our traditional ways of being strong, teaching, and helping those who are willing to understand the xwelmexw ways and laws of the old people is what is important to her work and in all aspects of her life.
Nicholas Kofi is honoured to serve on Council for our Nation. A lifelong member of the community, he is the son of Christine George and grandson of the late Bob and Kathleen George, who instilled in him a deep sense of love and responsibility for his people.
Though not entirely raised by his grandparents, Nicholas was surrounded by the values they passed down through his aunts and uncles—teachings of community, family, culture, and songs that continue to guide him today. These lessons of wisdom and knowledge laid the foundation for his path, shaping his identity and the way he carries himself as a leader.
Raised on Tsleil-Waututh, Nicholas found his voice early on the Youth Committee and grew into leadership roles rooted in listening and community engagement. For eight years, he worked in the Nation’s Language team, supporting the community’s hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language revitalization and helping keep cultural knowledge alive. Nicholas has also worked with the organization, Where Are Your Keys as part of the Sníchim Foundation, deepening his understanding of the importance of revitalizing not just the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, but all Indigenous languages.
Similar to his late grandfather Bob George, who spoke both hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Nicholas recognizes that language, place names, and teachings hold deep roots and meaning on these lands we call home. Nicholas’ dedication continued through service on the Lands Advisory Committee and the Board of the Maplewood Mudflats, where he helps protect spaces for cultural connection and environmental stewardship.
In his role as an Indigenous Support Worker, Nicholas supports youth in navigating education and life while staying grounded in their identity. He is also active in cultural practices such as drumming, singing, and language work, helping ensure səlilwətaɬ traditions continue for future generations.
As a Council member, Nicholas is committed to transparency, accountability, and building a healthy, united community where every voice is heard and every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
Dennis Thomas-Whonoak is an elected Councillor for səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and a prominent business leader. He assumed the role of Executive Director of Indigenous Business Initiatives and Engagement at the UBC Sauder School of Business in 2023. With over 15 years of experience in community service for his Nation and a deep connection to his culture, Dennis plays a pivotal role in advancing reconciliation efforts, increasing Indigenous students, and strengthening UBC Sauder’s ties with Indigenous communities.
His expertise extends to Indigenizing various business initiatives, ranging from residential developments to sports facilities, garnered during his tenure as Senior Manager, Business Development, and TWN Cultural Liaison for MST Development Corp.
Dennis has an MBA from SFU and as an active community member, he has served on various Boards of Directors, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Vancouver, and the City of Vancouver UNDRIP Task Force.
Dennis prides himself on bringing people together and is committed to leaving a legacy that strengthens Indigenous peoples and, in turn, strengthens our entire society. Dennis has won several awards for his work including the 2022 Enduring Award from Capilano University Alumni Awards of Excellence, 2021 Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40, and the 2021 Award for Planning Excellence in the category of Planning for Reconciliation by the Canadian Institute of Planners for the Heather Lands project.