Board of Directors
Ralph C. Brant, Chair
Ralph, a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, has a background in both finance and law. He holds a CMA degree as well as an LLB, and specializes in negotiation and mediation. Ralph has extensive work experience in both the private and public sectors. He retired from the federal government in 2009.
Winston R. Brant, Secretary/Treasurer
Now retired, Winston has 25 years experience in the federal and provincial government justice systems. He is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.
Kate Brant, Director
Kate has spent many years promoting and supporting Indigenous education and culture. A graduate FNTI's Indigenous Community Health Approaches program, she now serves as one of its program volunteer advisors. Kate works as an Indigenous Community Development Worker with the Napanee Area Community Health Centre, where she is a passionate advocate for the braiding together of Indigenous culture with mainstream healthcare for urban Indigenous people. City of Kingston’s Grand Theatre has Kate as their Indigenous Grandmother Knowledge Keeper for when they have Indigenous plays for schools and audiences to enlighten people on the local Mohawk Nation. Kate also is a member of the Kingston-area Grandmothers Council, a member of the Tyendinaga Health Advisory Committee and the Tyendinaga Education Committee. She is also an avid crafter and cook who loves to infuse modern recipes with traditional Indigenous foods.
Donna Loft, Director
Donna is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and holds the Health Program Advisor role at Chiefs of Ontario, that has required her to have a detailed understanding of the many issues facing First Nations in Ontario and across Canada. Using this knowledge, Donna was a partner in bringing a successful Home & Community Care program to the First Nations of Ontario. In addition to her significant experience in the Health Services, Donna has in-depth and practical experience working with Child Welfare Programs within First Nations as Director of Health and Social Services, the development and production of DVD educational tools for Case Management, End of Life practices essential with an aging population on First Nations, and the development of a Chronic Disease Management Summit program.
Pam Detlor, Director
Pam is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and formerly served as Deputy Church Warden for the Anglican Parish of Tyendinaga. Pam is a kind, caring community volunteer and her wise, insightful persona is reflected in her board contributions.
Mark McEvoy, Director
Mark’s family are members of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and he is committed to contributing his expertise to FNTI’s strategic priorities. Mark owns McEvoy Management Consulting Inc. (MMCI) and consults with the federal government focusing primarily on Indigenous considerations in finance. He is passionate about contributing to the success of First Nations, Metis and Inuit enterprises, seeking to streamline and effectively manage their internal controls and reporting programs.
Mark holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Fredericton and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).
Karen Weed, Director
Karen is a proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and has enjoyed over 35 years front-line experience in the health care field as a Registered Nurse. She has previously worked as a Forensic Psychiatric Nurse at Ontario Shores Center for Mental Health Sciences. Currently, she is busy day-to-day as a Community RN with the Tyendinaga Home and Community Care Program.
She has a solid passion for providing palliative care in her home community.
As a graduate of Loyalist College in Nursing and an alumnus of FNTI ‘s Indigenous Community Health Approaches Program, she believes in lifelong learning for Indigenous people and the importance of strong family connections.
Debra L. Maracle, Director
Debra L. Maracle is a proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. She brings more than 25 years of leadership in operations and telecommunications management. Her earlier tenure as Vice President of Telecommunications strengthened her expertise in project governance, budgeting and enterprise-wide technology integration. Throughout her career, she has guided major financial institutions in implementing various technology projects and cost-effective operational strategies, always with a focus on collaboration and relationship-building. She has served on industry professional committees, including in the role of Secretary-Treasurer.
Along with her professional experience Debra has a lifelong dedication to indigenous culture and community. Guided by her cultural teachings, she values continuous learning and the sharing of traditional knowledge. Debra is both honoured and excited to support FNTI’s vision of Indigenous-led education and to help expand opportunities that honour language, culture, strengthens self-determination and create opportunities for future generations.
Jennifer Brant, Director
Jennifer is a proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Jennifer brings to FNTI, over 20 years extensive experience working with corporate Canada, national Indigenous organizations, and various Indigenous communities.
Her managerial roles have spanned finance, administration, and business development. Recognized as a trusted member of the First Nations community, Jennifer is dedicated to facilitating effective communication and collaboration between corporate Canada and Indigenous communities, focusing on advancing reconciliation and improving socio-economic conditions for First Nation communities in Ontario and across Canada.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Aboriginal Business Studies & Human Resources Management from the University of Manitoba as well as certificates in Sustainable Community Investments by the Harvard Business School and Canadian Investment Funds by the Canadian Securities Institute.
Doug Green
In Memoriam
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Doug Green on February 1, 2025.
Doug joined FNTI’s Board of Directors in 2017 and was a dedicated advocate for Indigenous education and leadership.
As Vice-Chair, Doug's incredible insight, vision, and generosity with his knowledge and skills helped shape the direction of FNTI. He was a great listener, always prepared, and deeply supportive of our leadership team. Doug played a significant role in supporting our Integrated Project Delivery validation for the development of our 50,000-square-foot net-zero building.
We are grateful for Doug’s contributions and unwavering commitment to FNTI’s mission. He thoroughly enjoyed any opportunity he had to interact with our learners and staff alike. Doug gladly accepted whenever asked to speak at a graduation or participate on a panel, his enthusiasm never diminished. His kind presence and positive impact will be deeply missed.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.