I am a lifelong resident of Kelly Lake; I was born in Grande Prairie but have lived in the community my entire 31 years of life raised by my grandparents Curtis and Barb Belcourt who also raised my siblings, as well as my mom, aunts, and uncle are also lifelong residents of Kelly Lake.

My connection to the community stems back generations from my grandparents and their parents Lydia and Riley Whitford, and Leonard and Florence Belcourt, as well as their parents and grandparents who were among the first to settle in Kelly Lake many years ago.

Since May 2021, I have contributed to the Nikihk Management and Community Development Society through administration. Through this experience, I have expanded my expertise in correspondence, research, organizational support, budget management, and reporting, as well as fostering community engagement and relationship building.

In September 2023, I was honored to be elected as a Youth Representative for the Kelly Lake Governance Committee, where I am dedicated to continuing establishing a governing body that promotes social and economic development. This role has deepened my understanding of Indigenous governance through active community and industry engagement and the meticulous process of forming a government structure.

I recently completed my Business Administration Diploma at Northwestern Polytechnic, which provided me with a comprehensive understanding of key business concepts, including management, communication, finance, marketing, and accounting. This fall, I enrolled at Athabasca University to pursue my Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Indigenous Business. Upon graduation, I aspire to continue working in Indigenous engagement and strengthening relationships between communities and various governmental and industry sectors.

Based on my experience serving the current governance committee as well as knowledge gained from higher education I hope to continue my commitment for the community with this next phase of governance.