Declaration Act
Secretariat Leadership

Jackie Demerse-Abbasi

Executive Director, Social Justice and Policing

Jackie was born and raised on Treaty 4 territory in Saskatchewan, home of the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, Lakota, Dakota, and homeland of the Métis.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Masters in Public Administration from the University of Regina, and PhD (abd) from the University of Western Ontario specializing in multi-level governance, public policy, and Canadian politics.  Jackie has a diverse background in both the public and academic sectors.  Over the years, she has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in local government, public administration, and strategic planning.  Most recently, Jackie held the role of Director of Indigenous Economic Development at the Ministry of Trade and Export Development with the Government of Saskatchewan. Prior to this, she was the Director, then Acting Executive Director of the Status of Women Office and Senior Legislative Analyst with the Ministry of Government Relations.

Jackie has worked collaboratively with Indigenous communities, organizations and people on files spanning economic reconciliation, gender equity and gender-based violence including MMIWG2S+. And, as the daughter of a Sixties Scoop survivor, understands the cumulative impact of colonial policies and importance of connection/re-connection to community and Indigenous ways of knowing and being. She is married with two boys under the age of six and is grateful for the opportunity to live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen speaking peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, in Victoria B.C.

Yimmie Sonuga

Executive Director, Natural Resources

Yimmie is the Executive Director supporting Natural Resource Sector ministries at the Declaration Act Secretariat. After closely following the development and subsequent enactment of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), she joined the BC Public Service to support efforts to implement it. 

Since joining the BC Public Service, she has held a number of policy and legislation senior leadership roles. During her tenure, she has worked to build internal capacity around requirements under the Declaration Act and led several policy and or legislative initiatives. This includes the development of reconciliation-focused amendments to the Wildlife Act and the drafting of the Anti-Racism Act, 2024, which was developed in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples and engagement with racialized communities.  

Prior to her time in B.C., she most recently worked in Alberta, where she successfully led the development and implementation of public policy and legislation in a variety of sectors such as transportation, economic development, innovation, advanced education and Crown agency oversight. To her role, Yimmie brings a relationship-centred approach and significant provincial and international leadership experience in strategic development, change leadership, legislation, policy, legal counsel, regulatory affairs, and governance, gained in public, private, and non-profit spheres. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Alberta and an honours law degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

She is humbled to now live, work and play on the beautiful traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking Peoples (known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations). In her spare time, she enjoys creative pursuits and living an active outdoor lifestyle.