Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 28/01) - Rosemary Gill has attained years of post-secondary education and administrative experience, and now she's applying that expertise in her home town.

Rosemary and Lyall Gill returned to Fort Simpson to work for the Liidli Kue First Nation. Rosemary is the band's executive director while Lyall is serving as general manager of Nogha Enterprises. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

She returned to Fort Simpson in August to become the executive director of the Liidli Kue First Nation (LKFN). Her husband, Lyall, has taken on the job of general manager with Nogha Enterprises, the band's economic development arm.

"Ultimately, we're here to serve the (band) membership," Rosemary said. "We've always known we would come back ... I think the whole purpose of post-secondary education was to make a contribution to your First Nation."

Her higher learning came at the University of Victoria, where she had the highest grade point average in a public administration course through the aboriginal governance program in 1998. Before and after returning to school, she worked for the Lower Post First Nation in the Yukon for 10 years, most recently as executive director.

Many years prior, Rosemary graduated from the four-year Teacher Education Program through the University of Alberta. She taught elementary and adult education in northern Alberta during the 1970s and '80s. She then won a provincial achievement award for helping to establish career centres in a number of communities.

"I enjoy community development. It's exciting when you can see changes," she said.

She encourages today's youth to further their education so they have more opportunities later in life.

With the LKFN, she is the top administrator for band programs such as Fresh Start, Sa Naeah prenatal and Kids Corner day care. She's busy revising office procedures, and delegated a fair share of authority to the program directors.

"I like people to be innovative and creative. If there are any service gaps in their programs, I'd like them to develop strategies to deal with those."

As general manager of Nogha Enterprises, Lyall oversees four divisions: construction, highway maintenance, the ferry contract and the fire crew.

"The challenge for me right now is to get up to speed. It is so diversified," he said.

With 25 to 55 employees working for Nogha depending upon the season, there are managers for each division to carry out day-to-day operations.

"My job is to try to get them to work together and look down the road a ways," said Lyall.

Lyall has an extensive background in renewable resources and now reports to Nogha's board of directors.

The Gills met as teenagers and both went to high school in Yellowknife.

They returned each summer to work, Rosemary usually at the day care, Lyall in forestry. The community has grown since then, she said.

"It has really changed. There's so much development on the island," she said. "When I was a kid there were fields you could cross."