Stó:lō from Sts’alis and Tsimpshian from Metlakatla, Francine is an established Indigenous entrepreneur. She owns three successful small businesses in the Coast Salish territory in BC - the Cheam Trading Post, the Sto:lo Seafood Company, and iSto:lo Media Solutions. Francine is responsible for the overall operation of these family-owned businesses.
Francine has a profound respect for her Indigenous culture and traditions. Along with her family, she founded the Semoya Dancers, a traditional group that shares the Stó:lō culture and history through song, story and dance. The renowned group performed at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, was showcased at The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford B.C., and was also featured in the publication Man Turned to Stone: T’xwelátse. Francine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and anthropology from the University of British Columbia and was named valedictorian of the Ch'nook Indigenous Business Management Program through the Sauder School of Business at UBC. |