Our People

Indigenous and Northern-led

The Northern Indigenous Stewardship Circle welcomes participation from Indigenous governments and organizations from across Northern Canada who are leading stewardship and guardian programs. We also include additional partners and stakeholders in some network activities. If you are interested in being informed about network activities please subscribe to our mailing list or contact director@indigenousstewardship.com

Our Staff

Amos Scott - Project Director

Email: director@indigenousstewardship.com

Tanya Ball - Guardians Program Coordinator

Email: tanya@indigenousstewardship.com

Our Steering Committee

Dahti Tsetso

Dahti Tsetso is Tłįchǫ Dene and works with the Indigenous Leadership Initiative as their deputy director. Dahti played a leading role in the launch and operation of the Dehcho K'éhodi Stewardship & Guardian Program and the establishment of Edéhzhíe Protected Area. In her roles she worked collaboratively with Dehcho First Nation communities to develop a Guardians program that approaches conservation from the Dene perspective.

Tsetso graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Conservation Sciences and Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies. She also holds a Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization from the University of Victoria. She lives in Łíídłįį Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson), NT with her husband and three children.

Keenan Nooks Lindell

Keenan “Nooks” Lindell is an Inuk from Arviat, Nunavut. Nooks recently worked as Ujjiqsuinniq Coordinator for Aqqiumavvik Society where he ran cultural and community based research programs. Prior to that worked as a Wildlife Technician for the Government of Nunavut specializing in Caribou and Musk Ox research in Nunavut. Nooks is also the creative lead and designer at Hinaani Design an Inuit Apparel Brand consisting of collaboration of creative minded individuals from the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. The team engages in various modern design projects that reflect the culture, language, and land of Inuit. He has 2 years of Nunavut Sivuniksavut where he studied and researched Inuit History, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut Land claim agreements and negotiations, Inuktitut, interviewing and history of arctic research. He earned a certificate in the Environmental Technology Program (ETP) from Nunavut Arctic College, where he studied Wildlife Biology, environmental monitoring, and development on-the-land. He has experience in video production and was Co-creator producer / writer for the Inuktitut Comedy series Qanurli? for multiple years. He continues to live in Arviat with his family. He is actively regaining fluency of his first language, Inuktitut, through family, friends, art and hunting. Nooks also creates traditional Inuit tools and jewelry with a modern interpretation like Uluit, Panait and Qaurutiit and loves to be out on the land.

Kirt Ruben - Chair

My name is Kirt Ruben, born and raised in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region Community of Paulatuk Northwest Territories. I have been living in Inuvik NWT for the past Sixteen years, Married with two beautiful daughters.

I have been working with Joint Secretariat as the Community Based Monitoring – Project Manager since June 3rd 2019. My daily duties are working directly with the Imaryuk and Munaqsiyit Programs in a role to supervise, coordinate and support, while working directly with the respected Hunters and Trappers Association in the ISR who are the employers of the Monitors.

Our Partners

The Northern Indigenous Stewardship Circle is proud to receive support from MakeWay and the Indigenous Leadership Initiative.

Amos Scott was hired as project director in December 2021. He is Tlicho Dene and a worked as a videographer and photographer for the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and the Land Needs Guardians campaign. Amos has also spent many years making films in the North. He is one of the founders of Dene Nahjo and has run his small business, Adze Studios for a number of years now.

Amos is honoured to be working on establishing this network as a resource for Indigenous Guardians throughout northern Canada.

Tanya Ball started of a Steering Committee member but NISC is happy that she is in the new position of Guardians Program Coordinator.

Tanya is a proud member of both the Kaska and Tahltan First Nations. Her love for the land and for learning from her elders about culture, language and traditional knowledge has directed her studies and guided a career path which focuses on helping to advance the Indigenous Guardians movement and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.

Tanya also works with the Dena Kayeh Institute as a Natural Resource Technician and guardian coordinator for the Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh Kaska land guardian program. She also works with the 3 Nations (Tahltan, Kaska, Taku River Tlingit) Society as the 3 Nations land guardian coordinator.