Council & Staff

Ira Aisaican was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, graduating from high school in 1983. He has dedicated his entire career to public works, beginning with the City of Regina from 1985 to 2005, and then serving his nation from 2005 to 2023.

Since 2005, Ira has dedicated his life to honouring water and its importance to life and his community. His core values of honesty, commitment, integrity, respect, and family guide his work and service. In April 2023, Ira was elected to a four-year term as a band councillor on his nation, with public works as his portfolio and area of responsibility.

Ira presently lives on Cowessess First Nation, where his children and grandchildren reside. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, repairing vehicles, and spending time with his grandchildren.

He is a past board chair of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association (SFNWA).

Mervyn Keleman was born to a mixed farm family between Punnichy and Raymore, Saskatchewan, in 1958 and was the fifth child. He left school in grade 10 and worked in construction until 1979, when he married his wife Patti. They are still enjoying life together along with their two children and their spouses.

He started working for the Town of Raymore in 1979 and soon after was put in charge of water and sewer. He upgraded his education to grade 12, took water and sewer classes, and became certified after passing exams. He worked for the town until 2005, then took a position with Prince Albert Grand Council as a circuit rider, which he found very rewarding in assisting operators with operating their plants. He upgraded his certification to Level 3 in water treatment and Level 2 in distribution and wastewater treatment and collection.

He retired in March 2025 and is presently enjoying retirement while working part time for the Sturgeon Lake water plant.

Crystal Okemow is from Lucky Man Cree Nation. She has been a certified operator since 2010 and levelled up in 2013. She holds Level 2 in water treatment and distribution, and Level 1 in wastewater collection and treatment. She also holds a diploma in health administration. She is wife to Oscar Atcheynum and mom to their daughter, Isys.

She started work at Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre in 1996. She worked as the BRT6HC water quality technician/monitor from 1998 to 2016. She started working as a water treatment plant operator in 2010 for a local First Nation. In 2011, she was asked to sit on the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Healthy Water Working Group committee to review the proposed water legislation of the time, Bill S-11.

In 2021, she was nominated by fellow water operators for the National First Nations Water Leadership Award. It was a great distinction to be recognised for her contributions in her water quality technician role and for the training she provided as a water treatment plant operator that helped a nation get a certified operator. Although she was not successful in winning that award, being nominated for it was a great honour and something she is very proud of.

Presently, she has been the Chief of her nation since 2016. Although there is always work to do and advocacy in her position as Chief, water is still a passion of hers. She looks forward to working with everyone and learning together.

As a traditionally knowledgeable Cree Nehiyaw Iskwew from Thunderchild First Nation, Melanie enjoys working within areas that enhance opportunities to improve the livelihood of Indigenous people and their communities.

Melanie’s education consists of a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Indigenous Justice and Criminology from the University of Saskatchewan, as well as the Accelerated Administrative Assistant course from Saskatoon Business College. She has also participated in the Indigenous Women Leadership Saskatchewan Program, a one-year formalized mentorship and networking program designed to increase the representation of Indigenous women in positions of leadership. This is a joint partnership between the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc., Status of Women Canada, the Saskatchewan First Nations Women’s Commission, and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner.

Melanie has had the opportunity to work with those in leadership roles in various levels of governance within the Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations, Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Saskatchewan First Nation Family and Community Institute, and other diverse organisations. In addition, she was previously a Board Member with the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre (SIMFC) and was successfully selected as one of the Board of Directors for SaskCulture, a provincial board where she served as the First Nations representative.

She is enthusiastic about supporting FNOCC with the certification of water operators to help ensure safe drinking water and wastewater services for First Nations people and communities.