Student Spotlight: Brian Jones
Brian Jones
Brian Jones is a 2023 graduate of the Tax Administration program. He was also voted as class valedictorian.
My name is Brian Jones. My traditional name is Yelt’alh, meaning “fast runner”. I come from the hu ham clan (frog in our she shashishalhem language) of Jervis Inlet - a small village called Kwatamus. My roots trace back to the Shishalh Nation, previously recognized as the Sechelt Indian Band, nestled on the serene sunshine coast.
I was born and raised in Chilliwack, and have spent over 30 years working for communities. I am currently the general manager at Sumas First Nation.
The principle instilled in me from a young age was that hard work is the key to unlocking life's opportunities. My lineage is a fusion of diverse backgrounds; my mother's heritage is Mennonite German, while my father's origins tie back to the Shishalh people. Despite their differences, both sides have endured the struggles of being unwelcome on their ancestral lands. Around a decade ago, I made the pivotal decision to return to my roots and contribute to my home community. The gravitational pull of family, was the catalyst for this move.
My introduction to the Tulo Centre programming came to me when a colleague and I decided to take the program so we could learn to do our taxes in-house, rather than contract it out.
My experience was so much fun, igniting my passion for what I do. My guiding principle remains that as long as I keep loving what I do, retirement can wait. The knowledge I acquired through Tulo expanded my horizons of building a tax portfolio and equipped me with the essential skills - something that I have always aspired to do.
Since completing this certificate program, many good things have come from it. We now do taxes in-house, which was our main goal. Our development corporation meetings witnessed enhanced tax-related discussions, paving the way for innovative initiatives such as implementing development cost charges alongside associated fees and services.
My biggest takeaway from my time at the Tulo Centre is the friendships. I’ve taken different courses all throughout my life, and during these times you always foster relationships. The Tulo Centre learning is a lifetime venture and journey that we are on together. It will never end for me; it will always continue.
We are enhancing the relationships with instructors and peers that will help guide us as we move through more initiatives. It’s given us more opportunities and more doors are opening.
In our tight-knit community, revenue generation through taxation has emerged as a powerful facet. For a community of our size, this is a monumental achievement. Our next step involves delving into expenditure law. We're constantly learning and growing more conscious of our surroundings, and channeling this awareness into actionable growth strategies. Our progress is a testament to our collective determination.
My mantra has always been to give back to those less fortunate. I want our community to have what others have. Taking our tax revenues and doing things with it that Indigenous Services Canada won’t fund, is very empowering. It feels like we are changing the course of our narrative.
I used to tell my friends I always wanted to be a tax collector, and now I get to be just that for my nation. Sometimes I can’t believe that I get to administer taxes. It’s just an awesome ability, and I’m quite happy about that.
The history of taksis and our nations is so important to learn and realize. We’ve been here and functioning for thousands of years and people need to respect that.
A quote that deeply resonates with me is, "Come walk with us to see why we're still here."
