About Us
ABORIGINAL FINANCIAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF ATLANTIC CANADA
AFOA Atlantic is registered as a non-profit organization. It is governed by a board elected by AFOA members within Atlantic Canada. The chapter was founded in 2006 and has been run by its board members on a voluntary basis. AFOA Atlantic is financed through membership fees.
Board of Directors
Debbie Christmas, CAFM
Chair
Director of Finance Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs
Debbie is a band member of the Paqtnkek First Nation. She is currently employed at the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs (APC) as the Director of Finance. She now resides in Dartmouth, NS; but her heart is still with her home Community. Debbie earned her Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) designation from AFOA Canada and is currently working on her Certified Aboriginal Administrator (CAPA) designation through AFOA Canada as well.
Prior to working with APC Debbie worked for the Paqtnkek First Nation for 28 years. She started as the Receptionist, then the Social Development Administrator and finally as the Financial Comptroller. She also volunteered for numerous activities and still helps out whenever she is home.
Debbie believes that education is the key to moving the Communities forward no matter what your age or background is. She is passionate about her work and the benefits it can provide to First Nation Communities and Organizations.
Annie E. Johnson, BBA, BACS
Vice-Chair
Director of Administration Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources
Annie E. Johnson is the Director of Administration at the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR), a Mi’kmaq natural resources organization that serves all of the Mi’kmaq communities of Unama’ki (Cape Breton). Annie is a band member of Eskasoni First Nation and resides there with her partner Robert and her two dogs. She is the proud daughter of a residential school survivor and a Mi’kmaq language immersion teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Community Studies degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Cape Breton University. Annie is currently working on her Certified Aboriginal Public Administrator (CAPA) designation from AFOA Canada.
Annie began working at UINR in 2005 as a summer student in their finance office and has since been a finance clerk, Finance Officer and finally Director of Administration. Annie has been a board member of AFOA Atlantic for many years now and aspires towards promoting financial wellness in our Indigenous communities.
Susan Harris, CAFM
Treasurer
Special Projects Officer Abegweit First Nations
Jennifer Martin, CIM, CAPA
Secretary
Policy Coordinator Membertou First Nation
Jennifer is a band member, resident and employee of Membertou. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University College of Cape Breton (currently Cape Breton University). In 2017, Jennifer earned her Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA) designation from AFOA Canada and completed the Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities program at Harvard Business School.
Jennifer started working with Membertou in 2003 in the Finance Department. Since 2006, she has held the position of Policy Coordinator and oversees all policy development and maintenance for Membertou. Jennifer chairs the Policy Review Committee and Housing Advisory Committee for Membertou.
Jennifer is a member of:
- Cape Breton Partnership Board of Directors
- Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network (REN) Board of Directors
- AFOA Atlantic Board of Directors
- Micmacs of Gesgapegiag Finance and Audit Committee
- Regional Atlantic First Nation Housing & Infrastructure Network (Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs’)
- Membertou Governance Committee
Mary Collier, CAFM
Director
Finance Administrator Ulnooweg Development Group Inc
Mary is currently employed at Ulnooweg Development Group as Financial Comptroller. Before that was employed by home community of Potlotek First Nation as their Chief Financial Officer. She is the sole proprietor of Mary Collier Accounting which assists clients in keeping bookkeeping records and training them to understand their company’s financial outlook.
Mary graduated from Cape Breton University in 1999 with BBA. She received her CAFM designation from AFOA Canada in 2006. She is currently working on her CPA designation.
Mary is a mother of 4, grandmother of 14 and is the eldest of 14 children.
Connie Moon Martin, CAFM, CAPA
Director
Senior Accountant Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government
Connie Moon Martin is a band and community member of Listuguj. Connie began her finance career in 1993 as an Accounts Payable Clerk for the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government (LMG). She is currently the Senior Accountant at LMG, where she concentrates on implementing modern accounting techniques and developing a strong finance team for Listuguj.
Connie studied business and political science at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). Through AFOA Canada, Connie earned a Certified Aboriginal Finance Manager (CAFM) designation in 2014. She then went on to complete the Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities program at Harvard Business School in 2018. Connie recently received her second designation from AFOA Canada as a Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA) in 2019.
Throughout her career, Connie has worked closely with her colleagues to shape and evolve the governance of Listuguj through policy development. She has been involved in developing Human Resource, Finance, Governance and Information Technology policies all while promoting the importance of accountability and transparency; and helping to build a road map to long-term growth. She is currently leading the Listuguj Finance Team, with the help of First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB), to achieve a Financial Management System and Performance Certifications.
In addition to the AFOA Atlantic Board of Directors, Connie’s active boards and committees include:
- Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government Finance and Audit Committee
- Listuguj Mi’gmaq Development Centre Board of Directors
- Campbellton Library Board of Directors