A new Head of Delegation has been appointed for the Gwich’in Council International as part of a new partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark.
With the previous Head of Delegation, Edward Alexander, stepping down, Kris Statnyk has been selected to fill the position. Statnyk has been working with the Gwich’in Council International since last August, and comes from the Vuntut Gwich’in First Nation.
Statnyk shared some of his background which has led him to this position.
“I think it was 2022 when I was first appointed to the board by my First Nation. The Gwich’in First Nation has an international board, representing all of our communities in Alaska, Yukon, and the NWT. We have four board members from Alaska, two from Yukon, and two that are appointed from the Gwich’in Tribal Council in the NWT.
“I’m a practicing lawyer, mostly in the Yukon and British Columbia, and I work with the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, my own community, as well as other First Nations on issues around the right to self-determination, treaties, and land management. So I’m looking to bring that background and experience to this role, because it’s not just Canadian laws that affect the Gwich’in, but also our own rights, and things that happen on an international level.”
Statnyk explained that for the last two years, the country of Norway has been serving as the Chair for the Arctic Council, of which the Gwich’in Council International is a member. Now that Norway’s term is up, the mantle of Chair is being passed to the Kingdom of Denmark for the next two years. This transition also means a number of key positions changing hands as well, which included Statnyk taking over as Head of Delegation.
“So as Head of Delegation, I’ll be meeting with the other Heads of Delegation, as well as the senior Arctic Officials that are appointed by the Arctic States to work at the Arctic Council. It’s a big responsibility and part of our diplomacy on the international level, so I take the appointment with a great deal of honour, and I’m really looking forward to continue the good work that our previous Heads have done.”
For the time being, Statnyk will be working directly with his predecessor, Edward Alexander, to help him settle in to his new role. Statnyk has said that he greatly values the help that Alexander is providing, and that he already has a number of causes that he is looking forward to working on.
