Lydia Hwitsum (Xtli’li’ye) is a First Nations Summit elected Commissioner. She is serving her first term as Commissioner and was elected by the First Nations Summit Chiefs in Assembly in April 2024. She is from the Cowichan Nation and previously served three terms as Chief of the Cowichan Tribes.

Lydia has more than 25 years of experience in governance development, policy development and implementation, and administration.  She graduated from the University of Victoria Law School and has an undergraduate degree.

She has advocated for Indigenous rights at the local, provincial, national, and international levels. Lydia has also served her community in many other capacities, including two terms on the First Nations Summit Political Executive, serving as the BC representative to the AFN Women’s Council, sitting on the First Nations Health Authority Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of the First Nations Market Housing Fund. She currently serves on the BC First Nations Justice Council and the First Nations/BC Water Table at the First Nations Water Caucus.