Presentation date: April 18, 2018 Mel Bevan, who also holds the Simoogit name Sa-tzan, is from Kitselas in Northern British Columbia. He has been an active leader in Kitselas for nearly a half century and has served as Chief Councillor, Band Manager and Chief Treaty Negotiator. He has helped found numerous local and provincial Native organizations as well as serving on a variety of national organizations including the National Centre for First Nations Governance and National Chief’s Advisory Committee. Mel Bevan has been recognized with the Governor General’s Confederation Award for community service. A leader, politician, educator and fluent speaker of the Tsimshian language, Mel credits his mother Flora Bevan for his passion about treaty rights, culture and language preservation and Kitselas history and knowledge.