Gwich’in Grand Chief explains why he’s moving to Edmonton

Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik of the Gwich’in Tribal Council says he is moving to Alberta for “personal and practical reasons” and more of a “work-life balance.”

Speaking with Cabin Radio on Friday morning, Grand Chief Kyikavichik said his move from Inuvik to Edmonton – some 1,880 km from the nearest Gwich’in community, Tsiigehtchic – would also achieve “cost and logistical efficiencies.”

“The reality is that we opened an office in Edmonton in April of last year to provide a location for almost 500 Gwich’in that we have in the Edmonton area, and we have almost 60 percent of our population that lives outside of the Gwich’in Settlement Area,” he said

“Our people are quite dispersed over a large area, and part of this is accessibility. I will be returning back to the Gwich’in Settlement Area at least seven to 10 days a month.”

Kyikavichik’s move was first reported by the CBC. He said he had spent months discussing the move with Elders and residents before it went ahead, and had let staff know in December.

Asked if other Gwich’in Tribal Council staff had already made a similar move, Kyikavichik said the phenomenon of southern-based workers had “already started” because of challenges attracting workers to the North.

“Part of the rationale for opening our office in Edmonton was to meet the requirements of our organization for recruitment,” he said.

“We already have staff located in our Edmonton office. We have staff in Yellowknife and we also have a staff member in Whitehorse.

“The reality of managing a multi-million-dollar corporation like the Gwich’in Tribal Council is that we will have a workforce that is dispersed, and we do have to meet the specific needs of those that we recruit into our organization. And at times, residency in the Gwich’in Settlement Area is limited.”

Kyikavichik said he plans to run for re-election in August this year, and the timing of his move would “give people adequate time to make a decision in advance of an election.”

Below, read the full transcript of Friday’s interview.

This interview was recorded on February 9, 2024. The transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Ollie Williams: Set out for us exactly what’s happening.

Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik: I decided to move my residence from Inuvik to Edmonton and, after discussions with my board of directors of both the Gwich’in Tribal Council and Gwich’in Development Corporation, decided to shift my work schedule to be based out of Edmonton as opposed to Inuvik.

What can you tell us about the reason behind that shift?

The major reason was work-life balance. For personal and practical reasons, there is a benefit for more of a work-life balance for myself. There also are some costs and logistical efficiencies that are achieved by it.

The reality is that we opened an office in Edmonton in April of last year to provide a location for almost 500 Gwich’in that we have in the Edmonton area, and we have almost 60 percent of our population that lives outside of the Gwich’in Settlement Area that over the last few years we’ve worked to engage with, through various sessions in Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Hay River, Fort Smith, Edmonton, Vancouver.

Our people are quite dispersed over a large area and part of this is accessibility. I will be returning back to the Gwich’in Settlement Area at least seven to 10 days a month.

To what extent do you think it’s going to be hard to sell this to people who do live in the Gwich’in Settlement Area, who do live in those communities, who maybe expect that to be where their grand chief lives?

I’m a pretty accessible person. When I look back over the last couple of years, for example, I’m averaging about three engagements in the communities per month. I do have to travel as a result of the job requirements to areas outside of the Gwich’in Settlement Area at least every three weeks, and it’s a balance of travel and accessibility.

I think I have shown over the last three and a half years that I’ve been able to get out into the communities and maintain a presence, and I see that continuing, even with this shift in my residency.

Is it just you that’s moving south? Are there other people who work alongside you in management for the Gwich’in Tribal Council who’ve also left the Gwich’in Settlement Area? What happens if other staff have similar issues as well? Is there a general openness, now, to more people working from the south if they want to do that?

Well, it’s already started with some of the labour challenges that we face in the North. Part of the rationale for opening our office in Edmonton was to meet the requirements of our organization for recruitment. We already have staff that are located in our Edmonton office. We have staff in Yellowknife and we also have a staff member in Whitehorse.

The reality of managing a multi-million-dollar corporation like the Gwich’in Tribal Council is that we will have a workforce that is dispersed and we do have to meet the specific needs of those that we recruit into our organization. And at times, residency in the Gwich’in Settlement Area is limited.

That’s a problem, isn’t it? I accept that what you’re talking about here is a reality, and I understand what you’re saying in terms of this is the Gwich’in Tribal Council dealing with the reality of needing to attract people to do these jobs. But at the same time, it’s almost a bit of an indictment of life in the Territories, isn’t it? It’s a bit of a problem that this is what has to happen.

It’s no secret that we have shortages in housing and rental accommodations. The cost of living is an issue and everybody knows that. Those are considerations for those that we recruit to the organization.

In order for us to get the talent to manage the significant and vast political and economic objectives of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the professionals that we require, we do need to be flexible in terms of our employment arrangements.

But it’s not the ideal scenario, is it? Would you agree that the ideal scenario is that everybody lives in the Gwich’in Settlement Area?

Absolutely. Absolutely.

Initially, when the tribal council was started, our head office was in Fort McPherson. In about 1996-97, a decision was made to move the office to Inuvik. It’s been in Inuvik, ever since. Our head office remains in Inuvik and the bulk of our staff. When I was elected, we had about 35 staff. We are growing and we have almost doubled our staff complement over the last three years. So the other added pressure is that the organization is growing substantially and we are acquiring new office space. We’re also looking at opening an office – a new, smaller office – in Inuvik as well. It’s all part of a growing Indigenous organization that we’re incredibly proud of at the current time.

I know relations between you and some of the Gwich’in communities haven’t always been smooth over the past couple of years. How have you talked about this with them?

I’ve been talking to participants and Elders about the move, letting them know over the last couple of months that this is coming and offering an opportunity for them to ask questions and seek clarity. It is something that’s new for our organization and, of course, we also have our staff – we have over 50 staff now that need to know, and so I formally let them know in December that this was coming, and there’s been some communication to support this.

What has that public communication looked like? The CBC reported this yesterday. Before that, how have you communicated this?

As I stated, with our participants and our Elders directly, and advising and working with our board of directors at the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Gwich’in Development Corporation.

We’re into 2024. You are moving – some people, I’m sure, will have concerns about that. What are your priorities for 2024 to illustrate that you can still do the job and be effective from the south?

That’s part of the reason why we’re doing this now, is so that people could see in advance of our general election, which is coming up by August of this year. I would like people to know how this would look and what I need to be able to do another term. It gives people adequate time to make a decision in advance of an election. This just allows that to happen. There’s a bit of timing in this so that people could see what that looks like before they have to make a decision.

And just to be clear, you intend to seek another term at that election?

I do intend to seek another term, yes.