Brenda Baptiste

More recently, Brenda has taken on the role of Director – Aboriginal Business Showcase for the Four Host Nations; as part of the programming for the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion.

Ms. Baptiste is the project manager for the Osoyoos Indian Band Centre for Aboriginal Community Enterprise – a leading edge leadership training program that is inspired by the innovative economic development model of the Osoyoos Indian Band. As the primary coordinator for this initiative, she is responsible for all aspects of this program including coordination, recruitment and fundraising.

August 2008, Brenda returned to Aboriginal health in the capacity of Aboriginal Health Program Lead for Interior Health. As a member of the Aboriginal Health Network, she is working towards increasing the health status of Aboriginal people within this region. She believes that by enhancing health services and eradicating poverty through economic opportunity, that many of the health challenges that Aboriginal people face can be resolved.

As a consultant, Brenda worked with Tourism British Columbia to support the development of Aboriginal communities that are involved in tourism. As a champion for Aboriginal Tourism, her focus was to build capacity and opportunity with the belief that Aboriginal tourism balances socio-economic development with heritage preservation and promotion.

As the former chair of Aboriginal Tourism British Columbia, Brenda’s focus was to actively promote tourism as a foundation for socio-economic development for Aboriginal communities. She has committed her energy to the development and promotion of the Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Blueprint Strategy, an innovative and leading edge initiative to develop the Aboriginal tourism industry in BC. She also served as a regional director for the national board of Aboriginal Tourism Canada and other national and regional committees. Brenda continues her work with Aboriginal Tourism British Columbia as an ex-officio member of the board.

Later, she was responsible for the development of the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, including managing Phase 1 of this operation, and playing a key role in the planning and development of the second and final phase of this centre. Her primary responsibilities for this project included project planning, product development, program development, marketing, fundraising and management of a $12 million dollar capital project. Brenda continues to work with the Osoyoos Indian Band on the marketing and development of the Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre.

As a member of the Osoyoos Indian Band, Brenda graduated as a Registered Nurse specializing in Aboriginal health with a focus on community development, and worked with the Osoyoos Indian Band in the area of community health.