Patrick Michell is a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation and has lived in British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon all of his life. Patrick has an Administrative Management diploma from Douglas College (New Westminster) and a Bachelor of Law (UBC 1992). After working in Vancouver with DFO and INAC, Patrick articled with the Ministry of Attorney General (Victoria) and Richards Buell Sutton (Vancouver) before being called to the Bar in 1997. Patrick practiced law in the Fraser Canyon until 2005 after which he became a full-time worker for the Kwoiek Hydro Project in the role of Community Liaison. The Liaison role transitioned into the community Economic Development Officer after the Kwoiek hydro project was completed in January 2014. With the retirement of Chief James Frank in the Spring of 2015, Patrick became the Chief of Kanaka Bar in the community’s first election in over 30 years.
Since 1978, Patrick has been involved with all 5 phases of diverse renewable energy projects applicable within his communities Traditional Territory.