Melaw Nakehk’o was born and raised in Denendeh as the daughter of Chief Jim Antoine of Łíídlįį Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson) and Celine Antoine. She was taught traditional art by her granny, Judith Buggins, at a young age. Melaw attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she acquired an Associates Degree in Two Dimensional Arts, with a focus on painting. She remained in the Southwest for 8 years.
Melaw returned to the Deh Cho in 2008, to raise her two boys where they can truly understand the interconnectedness and reciprocal relationship Dene share with the land. Melaw is a two time Dechinta alumni and an active member of Łíídlįį Kų́ę́ First Nation, attending annual regional and territorial leadership meetings and treaty conferences. She has been nurturing the arts of sewing, moose hide tanning, and traditional medicine, as well as researching her people’s history to teach the coming generations to maintain the pride and strength found in their indigenous culture.
Shirley Tsetta was born and raised in Ndilo. Parents were traditional hunters and trappers. Attended Brynant Hall Residential School from K to Grade 5, then Grade 6 at Chief Jimmy Bruneau School. Completed High School Diploma, Diploma in Management Studies and currently 2nd Year Social Work student. Elected Councillor for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN). As a YKDFN councillor, I hold various portfolios such as housing, finance, executive, AHRDA, and HR. A Community Representative on the Diavik Communities Advisory Board (DCAB) since 2001 and served as Chair for 2.5 years. As DCAB representatives, our mandate is to implement the Socio-Economic Monitoring Agreement (SEMA) for 9 impacted communities. I love camping, boating, hunting and fishing. I go to the pool and sauna on a regular basis, and participate in “sweats” at every opportunity. I enjoy reading, music and sports. Coordinated and participated in the Treaty 8 Centennial Canoe trip from Dettah to Deninu Kue in 2000.
Nina Larsson is Gwich’in and director of Energy North, specializing in biomass knowledge and technological concepts acquired working in the biomass industry for seven years in France, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and Slovenia. She is dedicated to working with remote communities and businesses. She is the project coordinator from the product information phase to installation and training.
Allice Legat is an honorary researcher at the University of Aberdeen. Dr. Legat has decades of experience in participatory research in the Northwest Territories and is the co-author of many reports and papers with Dogrib knowledge experts. Allice currently serves as the Environmental Anthropologist of The Wek’èezhìi Renewable Resources Board, which establishes policies and proposes regulations in respect of the harvesting of wildlife, approves plans for the management and protection of wildlife, the designation of conservation areas and endangered species, interim management guidelines and park management plans. The Board was created by the Tłįchǫ Agreement.
Erin Freeland Ballantyne was born and raised in Sǫ̀mba K’è/ Yellowknife on Akaitcho territory and was the first Rhodes Scholar from the Canadian North. Erin holds a BA Honors in International Development Studies at McGill University and Msc in Environmental Policy from Oxford University. Currently working on a PhD at Oxford, looking at the disjuncture between climate change and its effect on human security and health amidst a regional focus on oil and gas extraction and the challenge this presents for sustainable community development. Erin uses participatory video research to involve youth in research to create education tools to support community health.
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