 Executive Director – Wanda McDonald
Responsibilities: My role at the GRRB encompasses four broad areas: Personnel Management, Financial Administration, Board Administration and Liaison. I implement decisions made by the Board, ensure that GRRB staff follow the Board’s decision, oversee research, management and education programs conducted or funded by the Board, prepare the Board’s budget and monitor its expenditures, supervise office staff and prepare materials needed for Board meetings. I maintain working relationships with co-management partners, Renewable Resource Councils, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, various government agencies and adjacent land claim organizations.
Personal biography: I am a Gwich’in Participant and have lived most of my life in Inuvik. My daughter is Julienne Chipesia. Julienne is currently enrolled in a Law degree program at the University of Bristol, UK. I have been involved with the homelessness file for Inuvik and, more recently, have been cooking and serving food while the Emergency Warming Shelter has been closed over the summer months. I was elected as a Director for the Nihtat Gwich’in Council and Director at Large for the Aboriginal Sports Circle board. A few of my hobbies include creative writing, basic photography, scrapbooking and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise.
Gwich’in Nation: I have had the pleasure of working with the Gwich’in Tribal Council for over ten years, under four Presidential administrations. I held the position of Chief Operating Officer and Manager Business Development. I have a good understanding of the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim from a regional and community perspective and understand the challenges and success of land claim implementation. I have been mentored by past leaders and elders to understand:
- the values that guide us
- the importance of the Land, protection and management of renewable resources
- preservation of Gwich’in culture and language
- the importance of unity under the Land Claim
Territorial Government: I recently completed my employment with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) as the Regional Superintendent. During these seven years with ECE, I gained a valuable understanding of the importance of social and economic programming to help clients work towards self-reliance and more importantly, the call to serve our clients and at the same time build individual and community capacity.
Provincial and Private Sector: I worked for the BC Oil & Gas Commission and for a couple of oil and gas companies. This private sector experience has allowed me to understand the importance of consultation with First Nations and the economic opportunities available to First Nation companies.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work as the Executive Director for the GRRB. I look forward to making a positive contribution while fulfilling the mandate and vision of the Board with the support of the staff and strong working relationships with our partners.
E-mail Wanda |
 Wildlife Biologist – Steve Andersen, B.Sc.
Responsibilities: I coordinate and conduct research and management of birds and mammals in the GSA.
Personal biography: I grew up on the family farm near Grande Prairie, AB. From a young age my parents took me hiking and camping, so I learned an appreciation for the land early on. When I went to university, I studied environmental sciences, earning a BSc in conservation biology. I went on to work on wildlife monitoring projects in areas as diverse as the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, the forests of New Brunswick and the Ts’udé Nil?né Tuyeta protected area near Fort Good Hope.
While at university, I began volunteering at the campus radio station as a reporter and producer for their environmental news program. Our show gained popularity and was picked up by stations from coast to coast, including throughout the NWT on CKLB Radio. I have also done media relations work for a number of non-profit organizations.
I began working for the GRRB in April 2020 and look forward to getting to know the people of the GSA.
E-mail Steve |
 Species at Risk Biologist – Kaytlin Cooper B.Sc. (Hon), M.Sc., G.Cert.
Responsibilities: I work with local communities, Renewable Resource Councils and the government (Federal and Territorial), assisting with the development of management plans and recovery strategies and administering species at risk programs and research projects in the GSA.
Personal biography: Growing up in the UK, I spent summers camping, enjoying the outdoors and travelling Europe with my family. This fostered my love for nature and visiting new places.
I studied Applied Ecology (B.Sc. Hons) and Habitat Creation and Management (M.Sc.) at Staffordshire University, researching the vegetation diversity of reclaimed urban areas and management techniques for limestone heathland. After my second year, I spent the summer in Canada volunteering with EarthWatch studying coastal ecology, explored Vancouver and Vancouver Island and knew that I wanted to make Canada my home. Upon completion of university, I moved to the south of England, where I worked as a park warden for the local government before moving to Vancouver, where I studied Environmental Impact Assessment while volunteering at Stanley Park Ecology Society as an eco-ranger and wildlife surveyor and at Western Canada Wilderness Committee writing reports on their campaigns. I returned to the UK for a few years and worked as a field ecologist for an environmental consultancy focusing on species at risk (amphibians, reptiles and bats), before moving permanently to Canada, first living in Vancouver and then in Northern Ontario where I completed a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Practice: Natural Resources Management from Royal Roads University.
I have lived in Inuvik since December 2014, spending four and a half years volunteering for various local organizations, including running the Inuvik Vet Clinic and as a Director on the Board for Inuvik Community Greenhouse and Arctic Paws.
E-mail Kaytlin |
 Finance and Administrative Manager – Cheryl Greenland
Responsibilities: I provide financial and administrative support for the GRRB.
Personal biography: I was born and raised here in Inuvik. My parents are Alec and Elizabeth Greenland. I attended both the elementary and high school here and graduated from the Native Women’s Training centre in 1992. I also attended Mount Royal College in Calgary for a year.
Over the years, I have worked with many of the Gwich’in organizations, as well as the GNWT, gaining a wide array of office experience. I have always been interested in the environmental issues that are happening in the NWT and have been trying to educate myself in this area over the past few years.
As the Environmental Coordinator for the GTC’s First Nations Forestry program, I trained Gwich’in participants in Environmental Monitoring. I helped create the Environmental Monitors Manual, now the standard for this type of work. As Environmental Coordinator/Finance Clerk with IMG Golder in Inuvik, I worked on projects such as Bathymetry, Aquatics, Vegetation, Wildlife, Pellets, Traditional History and Archeology. I trained outside of Calgary in Terrestrial Biosciences and Aquatics techniques.
I have held a few other positions in the finance world, but I have been here at the GRRB since February of 2009. I enjoy being out on the land as much as possible, when time permits. I am an avid curler and have enjoyed this sport for many years.
E-mail Cheryl |
 Environmental Coordinator – Jessi Pascal
Responsibilities: To bridge science and community knowledge by managing the review of regulatory applications, research licenses and other requests for GRRB advice or data. In addition, this position is responsible for managing the ongoing collection of harvest data, research interests and other community observations to contribute to management planning processes.
Personal biography: My mother is Inuvialuit (Gordon/Esau family) and my father is Gwich’in (Pascal/Pokiak family). Growing up in Aklavik, I spend a lot of my time practicing traditional values, hunting, fishing and spending time on the land all months of the year.
I graduated high school in 2014 in Aklavik and then went straight into the Environment and Natural Resources Technology Program in Fort Smith, NT. I then graduated from the program in Inuvik in 2018. I have previous work experience working with the Ehdiitat RRC as their coordinator for two years, resulting in accustomed relationships with the Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board and staff.
Additionally, I have an interest in media (creating documentaries, conducting interviews, etc.) about our traditional lifestyle up north. I am currently working on a documentary on the Traditional Knowledge of Aklavik and how Climate Change is involved in the changes that we are noticing today.
E-mail Jessi |
Summer Student – Hope McDonald