The Board Members

Hi! I am Hannah Frank and my parents are Bruce Frank and Iris Frank. I am from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. 

I love to paint, surf, and play other sports. I am in grade 9 and love getting in the water with Rising Tide.

Ivan is from Ehattesaht First Nation on his mothers side and Tsimtian on his fathers side, residing from Lax-kw’alaams. Registered with Ehasttesaht, Ivan has lived his life on Vancouver Island.

Surfing is beautiful! And a great way to connect with the Earth, self and to our water roots as Nuuchanluth people. Healthy and can be massively motivating for youth to be outdoors and learning, all they lack is opportunity! Ivan believes that being around and in the water is healing for the mind, body and soul and is very educational for the respect of water and how to move with it, which is a strong part of our culture. Surfing can be joyous to all levels from novice to pro, which is why it's so great and Ivan is excited to help bring surfing to Nuu-cha-nulth youth on the island.

Rachel is from Lax Kw'alaams and was born and raised in Prince Rupert, BC. She currently resides on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. She works alongside the Nuu-chah-nulth Peoples as a Dietitian, focusing on wellness, food sovereignty and diabetes prevention.

Rachel is passionate about the healing powers of food and land-based physical activity. She actively works towards decolonizing surfing through the encouragement of inclusivity and diversity in the water.

Alyssa is a passionate educator, facilitator and mental health counsellor that works with communities to develop land-based healing and educational programs. 

She is passionate about SUPing, kayaking, gardening, and being outdoors. 

Alyssa was raised on Catawba and Potolmac territory in North Carolina, and is grateful to live and play on Tla-o-qui-aht territory.

Selena Lasota grew up in Kyuquot and is from Katzie First Nation. She loves to be active. When her career as a student-athlete was over, She strove to find a sport that captured her as much as lacrosse did. 

It wasn’t until moving to the west coast that She became enthralled with surfing – a sport she had never done before. Just as lacrosse was, surfing to her is pure medicine. With Rising Tide Selena hopes to spread the medicine that surfing has to offer indigenous youth.

Ali is an ocean lover who grew up in Quebec City, with Québécois and Sénégalais background.

Between her surfing and work for the Marine Stewardship Program for Toquaht Nation, she freedives and sails. After realizing how colonization removed BIPoC communities from sectors where they used to be the natural knowledge holders, she decided to do her best to increase accessibility to people that are currently underrepresented.

She joined muuła to help empower Nuu-chah-nulth youth in surfing activities as they continue to develop their love for the ocean.

Shireen is Métis on her mothers side and Persian on her fathers side and was born and raised on the Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən people. She is grateful to now live on the Hahuulthii of the Tla-o-qui-aht Ha'wiih.

Shireen supports the Minister’s Advisory Council on Indigenous Women (MACIW) in their aim to improve the quality of life for Indigenous women, and teaches yoga at Coastal Bliss Yoga studio.

Shireen is passionate about supporting Indigenous youth to cultivate a deeper connection to their breath, body and Mother Earth through the soulful experience of surfing.

Kevin is originally from Barrie, Ontario, a long ways from the ocean, but one thing growing up in that place taught him was a love for being in the water. 

For the last several years Kevin has been learning and working alongside the Nuu-chah-nulth as a mental health counsellor for the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. He sees the simple act of play, in any form, as a powerful tool for overcoming what life throws our way. 

Kevin's excited to be able to join the Surf Team and share another opportunity to connect with the lands that we currently live, work and play on.