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INUVIK - While growing up in a small coastal Nova Scotian community, Amy Thompson would often scurry down to the beaches to study the shellfish that washed ashore.

The fiercely proud Gwich'in beneficiary carried that passion for the sea and the creatures in it through her schooling, graduating from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology while working for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as an invertebrate fisheries technician.

In March Amy Thompson became the first Gwich'in to be chosen as the executive director for the Gwich'in Renewable Resource Board. A trained biologist, she continues to thrive in various roles since joining the GRRB three years ago. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Yet her heart was set on coming back to her home of Inuvik.

"It's where I'm from and I knew that," said Thompson, who carries the Kay and the Stewart family names. "When I was in Nova Scotia, I wasn't connected to my culture and I always knew that I wanted to come back. I never knew when that would come."

She found that opportunity with the Gwich'in Renewable Resource Board (GRRB) fresh out out of university. After stumbling on the GRRB's website she decided to submit her resume and hope for the best.

Though nothing was available then, within months she was interviewed for the special projects biologist position and shortly after that was hired in January 2006 as the first Gwich'in to hold that job.

Two months ago the board chose her as its executive director, again a first for a Gwich'in.

"It's nice to to have the full support of the board," she said. "I wouldn't have taken the position if I didn't think I could do it. It's more management and you're moving away from the field work, which will still be interesting and challenging."

Her role with the GRRB is much broader now as she's to oversee the operations of the full mandate of the board - wildlife, fisheries and forest management within the Gwich'in settlement area. She'll also continue with some research.

Thompson said she cherished the projects she was involved with, especially where she studied fish migration on the lower Mackenzie River and Arctic Red River. While working with local elders, she followed the spawning patterns and locations for several fish species.

Apart from establishing friendships with several elders, she was able to tap into valuable traditional knowledge, a refreshing addition to her scientific skills.

"Elders know that crookedback (also known as lake whitefish) go upstream and don't go past a certain location," she said. "They know what month it comes and what time it leaves. For science to figure that out, you'd have to do a whole range of tests including aerial surveys, which could cost a lot of money."

With the help of local elders and researchers she also led an ongoing study of the quality of loche (burbot) livers within the region. University researchers are handling the project now.

It's this dedication and passion that made Thompson an obvious choice to fill the executive director position for the board, said Robert Charlie, board chair.

"One of the goals of the executive director is to develop working relationships with the communities," he said. "Through her previous position as our fisheries biologist, she did an excellent job in building the rapport in the communities and working with the different agencies. I have no doubt she'll continue to an excellent job."

Thompson plans to do exactly that while focusing on longterm sustainability. She'll continue to reach out to people, including local schools where she often goes to give presentations.

"People respect people just for who they are here," she said. "Down south I always felt that I was really pressured to continue to do more school, more school and more school.

"I'm not opposed to doing more school. I want to do more school at some point. But here there's more to life than that. It's very value-centred. That's one thing that I really value."