Our People

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. 

Hannah Taneton is Sahtuot'ine Dene from Deline NT, on the shores of Great Bear Lake. She was introduced to the Guardians program when living in Tulita in 2019, at which time she became more involved in the program and started working with her community government as a Sahtu Kaowe Guardians Manager. "I think Indigenous guardians and stewardship is very important to connect with our inner selves and to connect with our ancestors from our land, water and language. I am learning everyday being on the land, and I am very happy to share what I know with my younger siblings or close friends". Hannah is also an Indigenous language educator for the school in her community and serves as Co-Chair of the Northern Indigenous Stewardship Network Steering Committee.

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.

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.

Bio coming...

My name is Tanya Ball and I am from Lower Post, BC. I am of Kaska and Tahltan descent. I have an educational background in Environmental studies and Advanced ARC GIS. I have been employed with Dena Kayeh Institute for 6 years as the land guardian coordinator for the Dane nan yḗ dāh ( Kaska land guardian) program. My love for the land and learning about culture, language and traditional knowledge has made the guardian program a perfect fit for me! Our program continues to grow in the data we collect, also we get to work with youth and elders, who are an integral part of the implementation of our program.