Born and raised in Behchokǫ̀, Jocelyn was appointed to the Wek'èezhìi Land and Water Board by the Tłı̨chǫ Government in 2021. 

Jocelyn has spent countless hours out on the land learning about her culture and her relationship with the land. After graduating high school, Jocelyn spent six years working at a diamond mine in the NWT, where she worked alongside mechanics and welders where she gained knowledge about the mining industry. 

“I learned the mining industry side, like how things work at the mine, but I never knew the regulation side. And I find that it's important to know both. And that's why I love learning about the regulations,” she said of what she’s learned during her time on the WLWB.

After her work with the mine, she spent a year and a half learning to become a financial advisor, dealing with life insurance, investments, and savings; and now works as a field researcher and logistical coordinator for the Tłı̨chǫ Government. She is a firm believer that there is always room for growth and improvement and is passionate about continuing to learn from the community during her time on the board. 

Working with the Board has been rewarding for Jocelyn, especially during a time of mine reclamation and remediation. 

“There's lots of mine sites that have just been shut down and haven't been cleaned up properly. That's been affecting the water and the land in the surrounding areas. And now we're in stages of closing the mines and it's important for me to be part of the board so we can do it properly, so we don't have to don't have to go back and clean up and it have negative effects to the environment,” she explained.

“As Tłı̨chǫ people, our ancestors have always taken care of the environment, whether it's the land or the water, and they've always respected the land. And as a board member, I think it's important for me and my family that we do the same, and also to make sure that the land is left as our ancestors always left it for the future generations to come after us.”

Outside of her work with the Board, Jocelyn is passionate about the outdoors and seeks ways to connect with her culture and the land. In her free time, Jocelyn enjoys camping and kayaking with her family, and she hopes to pass on the knowledge she has about the land to her children. Enthusiastic in her journey to keep learning, Jocelyn is continuing to build skills, including carpentry, which she learned while building a family cabin with the help of her friends and family members.