LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - When Eric Betsaka got his first job at the Nahanni National Park Reserve as a summer student at the age of 16 he never dreamed one day he'd be overseeing it.

Eric Betsaka, the associate superintendent of the Nahanni National Park Reserve, is on a path to become the park's first Dene superintendent. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Twenty years later, however, Betsaka is poised to become the superintendent of Canada's third-largest national park, the first Deh Cho Dene to hold the position.

Betsaka was made associate superintendent last March. The position means that he is being developed for possible consideration as the park's superintendent, said Stewart Macmillan, the acting superintendent for the southwest NWT field unit of Parks Canada.

Because of his past work experience Betsaka was identified by Parks Canada and the Dehcho First Nations, through their co-operative management agreement, as an excellent candidate for superintendent, Macmillan said.

Parks Canada will staff the superintendent position on a term basis and that person will act as a mentor for Betsaka leading him through a development plan that will last for a few years. The exact duration for the plan hasn't been set.

Parks Canada has created similar developmental positions in other parks that were established in areas where there are land claims beneficiaries or where land claims are in the works, Macmillan said.

"It's seen as desirable to facilitate these types of opportunities," he said.

Betsaka said he's excited about the experience he will get as the associate superintendent and the training.

Betsaka has had a long history with the park that he said will serve him well.

Growing up in Nahanni Butte Betsaka saw other community residents working for the park. Betsaka was taken in by stories told by his Uncle Herbert Betsaka and relative Fred Tesou about the trips they'd done in the park and the experiences they'd gained.

Betsaka's first work experience at the park was for two or three seasons as a summer student while in high school. Although he didn't originally consider the park as a career choice when an opportunity arose to be a patrol person in 1996, Betsaka applied and was accepted.

He worked in the role providing assistance to the wardens and guiding visitors on hikes until 2000 when he was given the opportunity to train to become the maintenance supervisor.

"I was happy being given the opportunity," he said.

Betsaka trained and was hired in 2002. His duties involved managing projects in the park including the replacement of the boardwalk at Virginia Falls. Betsaka took a leave from the park in 2004 to serve as the chief of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band but returned in 2007.

Betsaka said it's pleasing to have started as a summer student and worked up to becoming the associate superintendent.

"It's provided me with a great career opportunity," Betsaka said about the park.

The next few years at the Nahanni National Park Reserve will be busy for everyone, he said. Betsaka said he's excited about the projects the expanded staff team is working on including doing more outreach in the region and coming to long term lease arrangements for new buildings in both Fort Simpson and Nahanni Butte.

The mentor superintendent position hasn't been staffed yet. Chuck Blyth, the previous superintendent, retired this month. Betsaka said it was great working with Blyth and that he expects to see him occasionally pop in the park office for coffee.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.