Healing Land, Empowering People

Who We Are

In a unique partnership between Blueberry River First Nations and the Province of British Columbia, we are dedicated to restoring the land, water, and ecosystems that sustain Blueberry River First Nations and their Treaty 8 Rights. These rights are deeply connected to the health of the environment, reflecting generations of cultural and ecological stewardship.

Born out of the Blueberry River First Nations Implementation Agreement, which followed the landmark 2021 BC Supreme Court decision on cumulative impacts, the Blueberry River Restoration Society (the Society) is a space for building collaborative, respectful relationships. Together, we work to restore the land’s ecological integrity while upholding the Treaty Rights of Blueberry River First Nations.

Our mandate is to heal the land by fostering the connectivity of restored ecosystems, re-establishing natural biodiversity, and ensuring the long-term health of these vital landscapes. But our work doesn’t stop at ecology—cultural revitalization is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that the restoration of ecosystems and the renewal of culture are interconnected, each strengthening the other to create lasting, reciprocal change.

Join us in this journey of restoration, where land and people thrive together.

Board of Directors

Kashtin Apsassin

Interim chair

Kashtin Apsassin is a member of the late Edward Apsassin Family. He is Glen Apsassin’s son. He is a member of BRFN and is deeply passionate about the well-being and future of the nation culturally, ecologically, economically, and more.

He has lived off-reserve all of his life, but was raised visiting both Doig and Blueberry River First Nations. His passion for reconnecting with his culture started in 2018, and he continues on that journey today.

Kashtin works has worked as a public servant since 2021. As a public servant, he works to increase the number of underrepresented entrepreneurs that export, with a focus on supporting Indigenous-owned businesses.

Kashtin received his Masters of Global Business from the University of Victoria in 2021, and his Bachelor of Commerce in International Business from Macewan University in 2019. He and his partner currently live in Edmonton, AB.

Julienne Chipesia

board member

Julienne L. Chipesia is a proud member of the Blueberry River First Nation and the granddaughter of the late Rose Apsassin, who instilled in her a deep connection to Dane-zaa culture. She earned her Law Degree from the University of Bristol in 2023, followed by a Master of Laws in 2024, and was Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2025. During her studies, Julienne contributed through pro bono work, student leadership, and committee service. She is passionate about advancing Indigenous rights, cultural preservation, and environmental restoration, with a strong commitment to the future of her Nation and community.