Miles G. Richardson

Miles Richardson, a prominent Indigenous leader, brings an extensive background in Indigenous and Canadian government relations.

After graduating in 1979 from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts in economics, he served as administrator for the Skidegate Band Council and directed the establishment of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen program.

In 1984 Miles was the youngest person to be elected President of the Council of the Haida Nation, a position he held until 1996.

During his tenure, Miles led the drafting of the constitution of the Haida Nation and protected the Gwaii Haanas area of Haida Gwaii with the Gwaii Haanas Agreement, the first modern nation-to-nation agreement between the Haida Nation and Canada.

Miles was a member of the former BC Claims Task Force that made recommendations to the Government of Canada, Government of BC and First Nations in BC regarding the framework for negotiations to build new relationships.

From 1991-1993, Miles was a delegate of the First Nations Summit Task Group, an executive body that represents First Nations in BC. In 1995, he was nominated by the summit and appointed as commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission, a position he held for two terms.

In November 1998, Miles was chosen as Chief Commissioner by agreement of Canada, BC and the First Nations Summit, and remained in the position until 2004.

In 2007, Miles was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. From 2010-2013 he was co-chair of the Indigenous Advisory Circle for the Institute on Governance.

Currently Miles operates his own strategy and advisory firm, is on the board of directors for Canadians for a New Partnership, the advisory board for the Indigenous Leaders Initiative and the steering committee for the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative.