Weytk welcome to the Splats'in Territory on behalf of our Ancestors who have lived in these lands for generations and their descendants who live here today.

Wayne M. Christian is of Shuswap/Okanagan ancestry. He is a proud father of seven children and four Grandchildren. Christian was the Executive Director for the Community Health Associates of BC 2001 to 2005 and also a lecturer on leadership from a wellness perspective. Christian believes that healing and personal wellness development is central to improving quality of life for First Nations people. He served on the Board of Directors for the Round Lake Treatment Centre prior to becoming Executive Director. The Round Lake Treatment Centre is Internationally renowned as a model of Indigenous governance and culturally based treatment programming. The Centre became a leader in addictions and wellness during his tenure. Under Christian's leadership, Round Lake established a training and development division, implemented an innovative trauma treatment program and was the first alcohol and drug treatment facility to achieve a 3-year CARF accreditation in B.C. Under Christian's leadership the Round Lake Treatment Centre was accredited for 9 of the 14 years that he was the Executive Director.

Chief Christian was recently re-elected as Chief of Splats'in First Nation in December 2005. One of Christian's greatest strengths is a commitment that is firmly rooted in the values, principles and traditions of First Nations people. His leadership philosophy is based on inclusiveness, historical perspective, a strong belief in our Sovereign land title and rights that are governed by our laws, our values, culture, traditions and our connection with all of creation, he believes strongly that the solutions to the issues in the communities are rooted in the minds, hearts and spirits of the People who will deal with the Government's legislative genocide.

As a young man, Christian became determined to improve the quality of life for First Nations people, and he has held steadfast to this goal during his professional life. Christian entered politics as a vehicle to create change. He served on Council 1977 to 1979 then was the elected Chief of the Splats'in First Nation in 1979 till 1987 and Chairperson of Shuswap Nation Tribal Council. He spear-headed the creation of the first Community controlled child welfare legislation in Canada. He was also Chairperson of the Constitutional Express which lobbied nationally and internationally at the United Nations and 7 European countries against the Canadian government's plan to repatriate the Canadian constitution and to establish recognition of First Nations as one of the founding Nations of Canada. He was elected Co-chairperson of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council in April 2006 with responsibilities for Aboriginal Title and Rights and Child Welfare.

"Our old people say, "How are we to live? If the government takes our food from us they must give us other food in its place."Conditions of living have been thrust on us which we did not expect, and which we consider in great measure unnecessary and injurious. We have no grudge against the white race as a whole nor against the settlers, but we want to have an equal chance with them of making a living. We welcome them to this country. It is not in most cases their fault. They have taken up and improved and paid for their lands in good faith. It is their government which is to blame by heaping up injustice on us. But it is also their duty to see their government does right by us, and gives us a square deal. We condemn the whole policy of the B.C. government towards the Indian tribes of this country as utterly unjust, shameful and blundering in every way. We denounce same as being the main cause of the unsatisfactory condition of Indian affairs in this country and of animosity and friction with the whites. So long as what we consider justice is withheld from us, so long will dissatisfaction and unrest exist among us, and we will continue to struggle to better ourselves"
MEMORIAL TO SIR WILFRID LAURIER, PREMIER OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA