Jessica Simpson is a Tlicho First Nations from Wha Ti, NT, who grew up in Somba Ke (Yellowknife), Denendeh. She is a young indigenous leader with a diverse array of interests and accomplishments. In October 2007, she received her Bachelor of Arts with major in Anthropology and minor in Canadian Studies, from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick.

Jessica continues to gain knowledge about her Dene cultureby learning traditional recipes and reading about Tlicho legends, she plans to write a children’s book about the influential stories. Jessica has written a number of youthf ocused articles on ‘How to stay motivated and the struggles therein’. Her written work has been published in RedWire and Spirit-Mag; both Canadian Aboriginal youth magazines. She was also published in the New Socialist Magazine which concentrates on politics, social movements and culture. In 2003, Jessica attended the annual general meeting of the NWT Youth Council, during this time she was became more interested in Northern issues and of the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project. It wasn’t one person in particular that influenced Jessica but everyone that attended the meeting. She found inspiration in the stories and emotions expressed, many relating to the concerns of youth in northern communities. In retrospect, it was her sympathetic concern for northern people that motivated Jessica to advance her involvement in Northern issues.

Jessica currently lives in Yellowknife, NT, and works for the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. As the Community Liaison Officer, Jessica provides the public with written and visual assistance in understanding the environmental assessment process. The Review Board is responsible for conducting quality environmental impact assessments which protect the environment and enhance the social, economic and cultural well-being of Mackenzie Valley residents and of all Canadians.

Prior to obtaining the job with the Review Board, Jessica was the co-director of the Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance. The AIYA encourages dialogue between youth and Elders, through raising awareness of the potential impacts of the Mackenzie Gas Project. The Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance seeks to connect the vision of the youth with the wisdom of the elders, and to relate traditional knowledge and values to issues of development and globalization. Their goal is to provide education and leadership development to Northern indigenous youth. They seek to empower the youth to engage decision makers (industry and government), and equip them to make decisions for a sustainable development framework based on the traditional knowledge and customary practices of the Dene and Inuvialuit indigenous peoples.

In her last year of university Jessica decided to temporarily withdraw from the Youth Alliance to explore other avenues to increase her knowledge on global issues. Jessica demonstrates exceptional character and it is reflected in her high standards of ethical conduct and her strong sense of citizenship and community responsibility. She greatly understands the affects and prospects of the Oil and Gas industry. She recognizes that it is a huge, constructive resource for the North and its people, but is especially aware of the great concern for northern people and how their lives will be affected by future development. She believes that respect and knowledge is the balance when dealing with oil and gas issues, there is not one solution or answer, the best approach is to be educated and aware of the issues.

Operating on behalf of the Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance and the Mackenzie Valley Environment Impact Review Board, Jessica is a new project partner for the Gas, Arctic Peoples, and Security (GAPS) Initiative.She has taken on this responsibility to support and share knowledge on this issue with the public, especially the northern youth audience. This initiative specifically focuses on the impacts of oil and gas activity on climate change and on Arctic peoples, in order to identify and document threats and coping strategies from multiple security perspectives (in both Arctic communities and among Arctic researchers). It aims to deliver this knowledge in cooperation with Arctic communities, to other Arctic communities, and to the human security policy and academic communities.

In the future, Jessica aspires to obtain her master’s degree, in order to do this she will have to leave the north, she fully intends on returning and contributing the knowledge and experience she will have gained to help ensure a sustainable future for the North. We have seen Jessica’s progression from being a motivated youth activist, to having a dynamic involvement on Arctic issues and a rewarding career in the sustainable development field. It is evident that Northern youth need leaders they can trust and respect, a leader that can inspire greatness, Jessica encourages youth to keep positive and never lose sight of your vision for the future.

By Linda Wright