Governing Council
A council elected by our membership governs the organization. It is comprised of a President, Councillors representing each of the seven electoral areas of the NunatuKavut Community Council, and a Councillor representing youth. The current governing council was elected on November 7, 2024 through a General Election Process.
The Elders are appointed by Council. The Vice President and Executive Member at Large is also appointed by Council and forms the Executive Committee, along with the President.
Todd Russell
President
Todd is from William’s Harbour, a tiny island community on the southeast coast of Labrador. He attended Memorial University in Corner Brook and St. John’s, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Classics.
Todd was elected to what is now the NunatuKavut Community Council in 1992. Two years later he was elected President, a position he held for 11 years. He has also served on a number of national boards.
Todd entered federal politics in May of 2005 when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Labrador during a by-election and he was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He was re-elected President of NCC again in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Dexter Flynn
Councillor for Area 1
Straits
Communities: L’Anse au Loup, L’Anse au Clair, Forteau, Red Bay, West St. Modeste, Capstan Island, Pinware and L’Anse Amour.
Born and raised in Forteau, Dexter spent a lot of time in his mom’s home community of William’s Harbour, a place he describes as an “island paradise.” After finishing high school, he attended college in Happy Valley-Goose Bay where he completed the Industrial Mechanic program and then went on to join the military where he spent the next 27 years serving our country.
After retirement, he moved home in 2016. He currently transports children with special needs to and from school. He also joined the local fire department as a safety officer, is an active member of the Lions Club, and was the Forteau coordinator for the last Labrador Winter Games.
In his spare time, Dexter loves to hunt and fish and spends a lot of time on the water. He also loves sports and is an avid fan of hockey. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Sherry, for over 34 years. They have two children, Courtney and Nathan, and two grandchildren, Haidyn and Hudson.
When asked why he wanted to be involved with NCC, he said “I became involved with NCC during the covid period and worked with them for a few years part time here in the straits helping our seniors. This influenced me to want to do more for our people, so I decided to run for council. I’m looking forward to all the challenges ahead.”
This is Dexter’s first term as Councillor.
Roy Mangrove
Councillor for Area 2
Battle Harbour
Communities: Lodge Bay, Mary’s Harbour and St. Lewis
Roy is from St. Lewis, where he lives with his wife Phyllis who operates Mangroves Store. When Roy isn’t fishing, he enjoys hunting in his spare time. Roy has six children and is a proud grandparent. Roy served on the Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Co. board from 1979 to 1996. This is Roy’s second term on council. He chose to run because of his desire to help the people of NunatuKavut and to improve our way of life going forward.
Boyce Turnbull
Executive Member-at-Large and Councillor for Area 3
Bolsters Rock to Spear Point
Communities: Port Hope Simpson, Charlottetown, Norman Bay and Pinsent’s Arm
Boyce was born in Mary’s Harbour and raised in Charlottetown, Labrador where he resides today with his wife, Sherry. His formal education is in Recreation Management and he currently works as a Career/Training Counsellor with the Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership (LATP).
Prior to this position Boyce owned and operated his own business after working in the construction and fishing industries as well as the field of recreation management for several years.
For more than 25 years Boyce has been an active volunteer with various community and youth organizations including Church Youth Groups, NunatuKavut, Canadian Cancer Society, Relay for Life, Health Liaison Committee, Literacy Committee, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and the Special Olympics. He is honoured to have served on the NunatuKavut council since 2005 to bring forth his region’s issues. Aside from his work and volunteer work, Boyce enjoys photography, the outdoors, and cultural crafts and activities.
Cyril Campbell
Councillor for Area 3
Bolsters Rock to Spear Point
Communities: Port Hope Simpson, Charlottetown, Norman Bay and Pinsent’s Arm
Cyril was born in Charlottetown and raised in Pinsent’s Arm. As an adult he moved to Port Hope Simpson where he has lived for the past 25+ years. For most of his adult years, Mr. Campbell was a fisherman and plant worker and he would return to Pinsent’s Arm to fish in the summer. Along with his wife Barbara, Cyril previously owned and operated Campbell’s Place Bed and Breakfast as well as Campbell’s Restaurant. Currently Cyril is working as a second cook/bakery assistant with Labrador Catering in Voisey’s Bay.
Cyril has served four previous terms on the NunatuKavut Governing Council and was appointed Elder during his second term. He has a passion for helping people and is a Councillor on the Port Hope Simpson Town Council. Although not fishing for his livelihood now, Cyril still enjoys sustenance and recreational fishing and spending time in the outdoors, on snowmobile or cutting his own wood. He also likes to cook and play darts. He is married and has four children.
Lorna Knee
Councillor for Area 4
Sandwich Bay/Island of Ponds
Communities: Cartwright, Paradise River and Black Tickle/Domino
Lorna grew up in Cartwright. A graduate of Henry Gordon Academy, she went on to work with the Canada Post Corporation for 35 years. She spent many years volunteering her time with various organizations within the community including the Cartwright Recreation Committee and Eagle River Community Housing. Currently, she serves as a member of the Henry Gordon Academy School Council.
Lorna resides in Cartwright with her spouse, Kevin, and has two children, Gary and Jacob. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing and berry picking.
When asked why she chose to run for Council, she said, “I have always been a strong supporter of NCC. Our connection to the land of our ancestors is fundamental to our identity and our culture. It is a connection and a culture that I have fostered in my children, a connection that we have a responsibility to instill in generations to come. Having lived in this territory my whole life, I have seen the resilience of our communities and our ability to do great things when we work together.”
This is Lorna’s first term as Councillor.
James W. Holwell
Vice-President and Councillor for Area 5
Central/Northern Labrador
Communities: Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River and Mud Lake (as well as NunatuKavut members living on the north coast of Labrador)
Jim was born in Porcupine Bay, Labrador, and raised in Spotted Islands. He is retired from the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, where he worked for 29 seasons. He enjoys sports and has previously volunteered his time as a hockey and broomball coach.
He appreciates outdoor life and especially enjoys travelling back to his Spotted Island home during the summer months, where he continues to harvest and gather food from the land and sea.
Jim currently resides in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. He and his wife have three children and seven grandchildren.
This is Jim’s fourth term on the Council.
Hughlett Williams
Councillor for Area 5
Central/Northern Labrador
Communities: Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River and Mud Lake (as well as NunatuKavut members living on the north coast of Labrador)
Hughlett is proudly from Seal Islands, Labrador and currently resides in Happy Valley-Goose Bay with his spouse, Patricia. He has two children, Connor and Christian. He completed post-secondary training and holds a commercial helicopter license.
Hughlett works with Labrador Grenfell Health and volunteers as President of the Local 2202 Long Term Care Union. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, trapping and any outdoor activity.
This is Hughlett’s second term on council.
Jessie Tobin
Councillor for Area 6
Western Labrador
Communities: Labrador City, Wabush and Churchill Falls
Jessie was born and raised in Charlottetown, Labrador. After living in different communities in Newfoundland and Labrador for a few years, she returned to Charlottetown in 1989 where she took on the role of Town Clerk. This position piqued her interest in community development, and she made the decision to go back to college, graduating in 1997 with a diploma in Regional Economic Development – Community Studies.
Jessie has served on the NunatuKavut Governing Council since 2011, and this is her fifth term representing Labrador West and Churchill Falls. She loves being involved in her community and was a Wabush Town Councillor for two years. Her hobbies include knitting, sewing, and volunteering for community events. She is married with one child, three stepchildren and six grandchildren.
Jeanette Russell
Councillor for Area 7
All of Canada Outside NunatuKavut
A “displaced Labradorian hailing from Mary’s Harbour,” Jeanette is a former school counsellor. She holds a Master of Education degree in Counselling Psychology from Memorial University.
Jeanette raised two children – a daughter McKenzie and a son Marc, who was tragically lost in a fishing accident. After the loss of Marc, Jeanette founded the Labrador Coalition for Search and Rescue and began to fiercely advocate for increased safety at sea, including permanent Coast Guard stations in Labrador.
She currently resides in St. John’s, NL, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, writing, hiking and travelling.
When asked why she wanted to be involved with NCC, she said that she wants “to advocate for and serve our membership, defend our Indigenous rights, and maintain my connection to Labrador – the place I will always call home.”
This is Jeanette’s first term as Councillor.
Zoey Russell
Youth Councillor
Zoey grew up in Port Hope Simpson, where she still resides. She is a graduate of College of the North Atlantic’s Hairstylist Program and owns her own salon.
Zoey enjoys snowmobiling, dog-sledding, boating, baking, makeup, and spending time with her family, friends, and dogs.
This is Zoey’s second term as Youth Councillor. She is involved to help ensure younger generations keep a close relationship with the land for years to come.
Chris Lethbridge, Sr.
Elder Councillor
Chris’ family is from the Sandwich Bay area, and he has extensive knowledge, recollection and awareness of the region. Now retired, he was a heavy equipment operator for over 50 years working with Transport Canada, various contractors, and in the mining industry.
Chris was Vice-President of the Labrador Metis Association and has served in various volunteer roles with the Rural Development Board, Mokami Development Board, Regional Development Board, and various others. He also served with the Fur Institute of Canada representing trappers across the country.
Chris spends a lot of time in Paradise River and is very familiar with family connections in the community and outlying areas of both the Sandwich Bay region and the Lake Melville area, where he currently resides. His connection to these places will be valuable as he serves on the Council.
Lydia Penney
Elder Councillor
Past Presidents
| 2012-present | Todd Russell |
| 2006-2012 | Chris Montague |
| 1994-2005 | Todd Russell |
| 1993 | Kirby Lethbridge/Ford Rumbolt |
| 1991-1992 | Dave Martin |
| 1989-1990 | Reginald Michelin |
| 1987-1988 | Joe Goudie |
| 1986 | Chris Montague |
Nakummesuak Award
“Nakummesuak” means “Thank you very much” — a big acknowledgement.
The Nakummesuak Award was created by the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) and is
administered by the President’s Office. The award is given annually to individuals who have
demonstrated outstanding support for NunatuKavut and its communities and have given
unselfishly of their time and energy to make a difference.
Candidates must be nominated by an NCC member and would normally be an NCC member.
On an exceptional basis, NCC recognizes that there are those outside its membership who have
made significant contributions. On this basis NCC will accept such nominations.