Your Trustees

Co-Chair, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation

Dana is a Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation citizen, husband, father of two, and former Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. Dana is also a former Chair of the Chiefs Committee on Education, where he played a central role in negotiations to advance First Nations education, including the establishment of the First Nation School Board. He is the first chair appointed to the First Nation School Board of Trustees.

Co-Chair, Liard First Nation

Gillian lives in Marsh Lake with her husband and two boys. She has a master’s degree from the University of British Columbia and now serves as the Director of Culture and Land Stewardship with the Dena Kayeh Institute where she works to advance the importance of land, language and culture. She had experience on numerous boards, councils and committees and understands the importance of listening to community members about issues of concern.

Trustee, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations

Jocelyn is a trained microbiologist and hydrologist and is the Indigenous Knowledge Research Chair at Yukon University. Jocelyn champions a whole-person approach to education and healing. She lives in Whitehorse with her husband and two children.

Trustee, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations

Shadelle has an MBA in Aboriginal Business and Leadership and has served more than six years as the Executive Director for the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN). At CYFN, she has been integral in the development of many supports and services for Yukon First Nations including Family Preservation Services and has played a key role in the operations of the Yukon Native Language Centre (YNLC). She lives in Whitehorse and is the mother of two teenagers.

Trustee, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations

From Däkwä̀käda (Haines Junction) Matsʼäsä̀na Mą Primozic, is a member of the Agünda (Wolf Clan), from Champagne and Aishihik First Nation. Her Great-grandma was the respected Chushrùa, Marge Jackson. Matsʼäsä̀na Mą was named after her Great-Great-grandma Maggie Jim and her Grandma Margaret Primozic (nee Jackson). Matsʼäsä̀na Mą is honoured to be the first woman in 2 generations to receive this powerful name, given to her by her Great-grandma Marge.

Matsʼäsä̀na Mą is someone who thrives from the Language and Culture. In June 2021, she graduated from CAFNʼs Adult Language Immersion Program where she became an advanced-intermediate fluent speaker in her First Nation Language of Dän Kwänje (Southern Tutchone). She also has received her Certificate and Diploma in First Nation Language Proficiency from Simon Fraser University. During the course of this learning journey, she was very lucky to work alongside two amazing elders who offered their traditional knowledge and teachings throughout the program. These teachings often lined up with modern day science and research which allows for her to understand, comprehend and live in both worlds.

Matsʼäsä̀na Mą is someone who truly values our youth and helps quide them toward their culture, language, and traditions. She truly believes their paths are crucial for the future; without them, there is no hope for the next generation and generations after. Matsʼäsä̀na Mą was the Chairperson for CAFN's Youth Executive Council for 2 years, and now sits on CAFNʼs Language, Culture, Heritage Advisory committee as she is someone who knows and lives Dän kʼè (our way) and also speaks and teaches Dáwänje (our language).

Throughout the past 2 years, Matsʼäsä̀na Mą was working in a position at the Yukon Native Language Centre where she designed, created, and coordinated a full-time Youth Language Immersion Program, called Youth Today, Language Leaders Tomorrow Program. This program allowed youth to be in full-time positions where they were paid to learn, speak, and comprehend their Yukon First Nation Languages while receiving their Diploma in First Nations Language Proficiency through SFU. Another huge aspect of her program was land-based language & culture work, which includes many on-the-land immersion camps, where her and the students and elders would speak completely and immersion. Not only did she coordinate, supervise, and manage this program, she also mentored and taught the 5 (Dän kʼè) Southern Tutchone students in the program, and was also a Professor for Simon Fraser University, where she taught levels 3, 4, 5, & 6 of Dän kwänje.

There are many organizations Matsʼäsä̀na Mą is involved in, such as being a Director for the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle Board, coaching and chaperoning 16 youth for the traditional sport of Dene Games at Arctic Winter Games 2023 & 2024, and is a Yukon First Nations Climate Action Fellow alumni.

When Matsäsä̀na Mą is not busy at a meeting, coaching, performing, or sharing & practicing her language and culture, you'll be able to find her somewhere in the community helping out where she can, visiting her elders, being on the land, doing beadwork, or spending time with family.