Valerie Gordon, the newly appointed chair of the Sahtu Land and Water Board, brings to the role a background rooted in a traditional on-the-land upbringing and a wide variety of roles in the public service ranging from a mineral development advisor to land administration.
Valerie – who’s family name is Edgi – was born in Inuvik but raised in Fort Good Hope, where she spent much of her childhood on the land with her parents and grandparents before attending residential school in Inuvik as a teenager.
“I was very fortunate that they lived pretty much next door to me when I was growing up, so I got to spend a lot of time with them,” she said of her grandparents.
They would take her and her siblings hunting and fishing, while at the same time teaching them to respect the land and the water. Her grandfather, in particular, had an innate ability to discern good water from bad.
Her professional journey began with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), now known as Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Starting as a data entry clerk, Gordon’s initial role was driven by the need to support her young family. Over the next two decades, she moved through various positions, from finance to administration, ultimately serving as a mineral development advisor. In this role, she liaised between the federal government, Indigenous communities, and the mineral and petroleum industries. Her work focused on facilitating communication, fostering understanding, and ensuring respectful interactions among stakeholders. Likening the job to making sure everyone was playing well together in the sandbox, Valerie said she helped the different stakeholders see each other’s sides.
At the same time, she learned about the challenges facing Indigenous communities across the NWT.
“There's a misconception that they don't have work ethic … but a lot of times they just don't have the opportunities that the Western world has,” she explained.
“So I was very proud of the fact that I could go in there and help move these relationships along and help bring a little bit of economic activity to the area.”
It was also through this work that she learned about the regulatory system and decided to put her name forward for the Sahtu Land and Water Board when the opportunity arose.
Valerie describes the Board’s work as crucial in protecting the land, animals, and people by implementing conditions that mitigate potential damage and securing funds for reclamation if necessary. This regulatory framework, rooted in the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement and the Gwich’in Land Claim Agreement, reflects the culmination of efforts by negotiators to create a balanced and protective system.
As chair, Gordon’s goals are centered on supporting her board members and removing obstacles to their work.
“I'm here to remove any barriers for them, and just to make sure that they are free and clear to do the work that they need to do,” she said. “My goal is to make sure that they have as smooth a time while I'm at the helm, and just to be there to help with anything that they need and just be."