board of directors

Cliff is a business owner with a hand in everything from Petro Canada product distribution to vehicle sales to residential development to regenerative agriculture.

After a stint as president of beef producer Heritage Angus, in 2011 he helped found Prairie Land & Cattle Company, which employs a soil-building technique in the production of grass-fed beef that has benefits for the environment, the animals and the health and well-being of humans.

One of his recent ventures is Drever’s Prairie Market, which helps Camrose and Wetaskiwin County producers get their fresh and frozen locally grown meat, dairy and other groceries to consumers.

At daybreak on Tuesday mornings, Cliff can be found attending Rotary Club meetings, and he is also a supporter of the Battle River Community Foundation.

Maya has a BMus and a BScN from the University of Alberta. A Registered Nurse, she works as an in-clinic health coach at the Camrose Primary Care Network, is a Certified Diabetes Educator, and cofounded the President’s-Excellence-Award-winning Young Medical Minds program.

Maya has volunteered extensively, her roles ranging from hospital and HIV care in Zimbabwe and South Africa, a member of the Citizen’s Advisory Council for Pê Sâkâstêw Centre in Mâskwâcîs, and a board member of Sahakarini, a local Camrose NGO. She also works alongside Newo Elders Roy and Judy Louis to facilitate blanket exercises, interactive experiences that demonstrate the effects of colonization on Turtle Island.  

Maya is an accomplished violinist, and is passionate about sharing her gifts as a violin teacher and volunteer accompanist for children and adult choirs in Camrose. She is excited about a forthcoming opportunity to provide youth mentorship for the BIPOC community of the Battle River School Division.

Irene Fraser is a Métis mother and grandmother who is recognized for her cultural knowledge and advocacy for the fair treatment of Indigenous people. 

She is highly regarded for her work with the John Howard Society, the National Parole Board, and the Indian Residential School Adjudication Secretariat. Irene was instrumental in the development, implementation and training of culturally sensitive parole hearings, and similarly for the Indian Residential Schools claims process. She has participated in a government commission, been on boards of many social service organizations and assisted with investigation work for the Correctional Service of Canada. 

Irene is admired for her principles, courage, compassion and civic engagement. She was awarded the Order of Canada on May 8, 2014.

Veronica Potts is a member of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation (ANSN) and a compassionate advocate for environmental stewardship and community building. 

Veronica spearheaded a holistic renewable energy training for Yellowhead Tribal College, where an initial partnership with Newo also brought solar training to Yellowhead Tribal Council Nation members. 

She is responsible for bringing a number of renewable energy projects to her Nation, where she helped fundraise for and manage the implementation of solar installations on the band office and Head Start buildings. During this time, Veronica also developed a permaculture memorial garden at her community’s main intersection. 

Veronica continues to work for her community in various capacities and is presently an administrator in ANSN’s Education Department.