About Us
Staff
Jesseica Nixon
Project Director
Jessica holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Regina with a major in Finance and Economics. Jessica also holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Kenneth Levene Graduate School of Business. Jessica brings expertise from her time in private consulting in the areas of feasibility analysis, business planning, sourcing funding/ financing, and project management. Jessica worked for one of Canada’s largest general contractors as a Project Manager, overseeing new building construction, tenant improvements and assisting in P3 project proposal development and contract execution.
First Nation economic development has become a passion for Jessica, and she has developed a long and trusted relationship with Cowessess First Nation in varying advisory/consulting capacities since 2008. Jessica joined the team at Cowessess First Nation in spring 2017 as the Director of Economic Development. From 2019 to 2021, Jessica served as the inaugural CEO for Cowessess Ventures and more recently in 2021 has shifted roles to solely focus on Project Development as a Project Director. Jessica is responsible for new business development, project development, partnership negotiations and execution. Jessica has a knack for successfully attaining grant funding for the community and gets excited when deals come through to fruition!
Jessica was born and raised on a mixed cattle and grain farm near Earl Grey. Jessica and her husband, Danny, along with their three children have taken over the family farm and currently operate their own herd of Black Angus cattle and grain farm. On Jessica’s days off you can find her in a swather or combine, working with cattle or out riding horses with her family!
Kathryn Dalsgaard
Financial Controller
Kathryn Dalsgaard holds CPA, CMA and CAFM professional designations and has been working with First Nations in the areas of accounting and finance for over 30 years. She has assisted numerous organizations with the implementation, monitoring and maintenance of best practices, processes, policies and internal controls in finance, administration and human resources. She is currently completing the practical experience requirement to obtain her CPHR designation.
Kathryn possesses significant First Nation accounting, finance and tax knowledge and has had work experience auditing Tribal Councils and First Nations when she worked with MNP LLP. Kathryn presently serves as a member of the Mistawasis Nehiyawak Finance & Audit Committee.
Kathryn lives in Saskatoon and enjoys spending time with friends. She also spends time at her cabin at Fishing Lake which is near the family farm in Kuroki, Saskatchewan.
Education & Professional Designations:
- Comm. – Double Major (Accounting & Finance), University of Saskatchewan, 1990
- CMA Designation (now CPA, CMA), CPA Saskatchewan, 1998
- CAFM Designation, AFOA Canada, 2000
- CPHR Candidate, CPHR Saskatchewan
Professional Experience:
- MNP LLP: Chartered Accountant Student Practicum (Audit & Accounting), 1990-1994
- Yorkton Tribal Council: Director of Finance, 1994-1996
- Cowessess First Nation: Director of Finance, 1996-1998
- Sask Power (Delta Project): Project Accountant, 1998-2000
- Saskatoon Tribal Council: Finance Officer, 2000-2006; Director of Corporate Services, 2006-2016; Acting CFO 2016-2020
- Cowessess Ventures: Financial Controller, Current Position
- KJW Consulting, 1996-2020:
- Personal and Corporate Accounting and Tax Services
- First Nations Finance, Accounting, Tax and Business/Corporate Services provided to over 25 Saskatchewan First Nations, businesses and entities
- Mistawasis Nehiyawak: Member of the Finance & Audit Committee, 2019-2022 (4 Year Term)
Daphne Kay
Community Energy Specialist
Daphne Kay is a proud Anishinaabe Ikwe from the Cowessess First Nation and is the Community Energy Specialist for Cowessess Ventures Ltd. In her position, Daphne oversees existing renewable energy initiatives and assets, and researches renewable energy opportunities that can be implemented by Cowessess First Nation. Daphne is also responsible for planning, coordinating and executing community engagement sessions, training programs, public events and educations days for Cowessess citizens.
Prior to this, Daphne worked for two years in the Cowessess First Nation Lands and Resources Department where she developed legal documents, and assisted with the management of Cowessess Lands and resources.
Daphne is passionate about education and is committed to life-long learning. She is close to completing her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Regina and plans to obtain her Masters Degree in Indigenous Governance soon after. Recently, Daphne completed the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Program in Land Management at the University of Saskatchewan.
Daphne loves to bead, dance Pow-wow, and organize events. Some notable events Daphne helped organize were the 2014 and 2015 Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life, the 2016 Canadian Indigenous/Native Studies Association Conference, and the 2017 Have a Heart Campaign. Some of Daphne’s biggest passions are environmental protection, sustainable development, and historical research.