Board of Directors
Riannon is serving her second tenure as a director on TNDC’s board and assumed the Chair position in July 2024. She previously served from 2014 to 2020, including Vice-Chair from 2018 to 2020 and Chair from 2020 to March 2021.
Riannon is a natural resources environmental sciences and management professional with extensive experience leading community engagement, conducting environmental studies and ensuring Indigenous knowledge is reflected in resource development projects.
As Indigenous Relations Advisor with Stantec Ltd. Consulting, Riannon assists in planning, management, assessment and mitigation services to private sector resource developers, all levels of government, non-governmental groups, and Indigenous groups. She previously worked as an Environmental Scientist with the Stantec.
Her career has included Field Technician with Tahltan Fisheries, Lands Manager with the Tahltan Central Government, Environmental Technician with Galore Creek Mining Corporation, and Environmental Monitor with Rescan Tahltan Environmental Consultants.
Riannon holds a Bachelor of Arts within the Ecosystems and Science Management Program, major in Environmental Studies and minor in Geomorphology, from the University of Northern British Columbia. She has also completed the Aboriginal Business Management Program from through UBC - Sauder School of Business and Ch’nook Indigenous Business Education.
Dawn (DJ) was appointed to the TNDC Board in January 2024. With a career spanning more than 30 years, and a passion for mentoring the next generation, DJ is a Tahltan trail blazer.
Currently, DJ works for Newmont at the Red Chris mine as a Heavy Equipment Operator.
Previously, DJ worked approximately 30 years for TNDC in various roles; notably, she was contracted to Newcrest Mining (former operator of the Red Chris Mine) as a NewSafe Coach, responsible for mentoring supervisors in quality, safety, operational discipline and effective communication. Prior to that, DJ was Shift Boss on TNDC’s Tailings Impoundment Area (TIA) project team, ensuring production targets were met safely and in compliance, and fostering an inclusive work environment for her crew. During her tenure, DJ became TNDC’s first female Construction Supervisor and her early career as an Equipment Operator has pioneered a path for future female operators.
DJ holds Shiftboss Certification from BC Mines and Level 3 First Aid.
She holds a strong connection to her Indigenous heritage, loves her Tahltan people, and leads with love, truth, faith and hope. Her grandmother is from the Tahltan Carlick family and grandfather is from the Tlingit Taku Jack family. She is from the wolf clan. Her grandmother called her Cah Dehda Caudanik, which means a woman who talks a lot but tells a true story.
Edward Van Mierlo was appointed to TNDC’s Board of Directors at the end of 2022.
Edward is a general manager and camp services management professional with a career spanning 30 years. He is Economic Development Manager with the Tahltan Band. Previously Edward was General Manager of the Dease Lake Super A grocery store, and had an 18-year+ management career with TNDC, serving as its Vice President of Operations and Chief Operations Officer for its camp services division.
Edward holds a number of certificates and designations, including Computerized Business Administration and professional food services.
Edward has resided in Dease Lake for more than two decades and is a Tahltan Associate through his marriage to Tina Quock from the Quock family.