A Delta Man - Dog Musher, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Member, Proud Indigenous Elder, Arctic Ambassador - Gerry Kisoun

Gerry Kisoun was born on the land in the Mackenzie Delta of the Northwest Territories in the Canadian Arctic, the second largest delta in North America. At a young age, his family moved from the trapline into the town of Inuvik. He grew up running dog teams and shifted between several jobs before heading to Regina, Saskatchewan and graduting from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.) Depot Division as a regular member of the force. After postings in Alberta and the Yukon, Gerry returned to the Northwest Territories, stationed in Tuktoyaktuk on the coast of the Beaufort Sea and his home town of Inuvik. After a stellar 25 year career, Gerry retired. He worked in visitor services with Parks Canada passing his knowledge and love of the Delta on to tourists and youth engaged in on the land programs. Gerry was appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 2011 through 2017, and served as interim Commissioner for a year when the position was vacant. Gerry was awarded the Polar Medal which recognized him as a respected elder who worked tirelessly at strengthening the awareness of Northern Canada and its peoples. In this highly entertaining episode we discuss Gerry's birth on the land, his unique cultural background, his experiences growing up running dogs, his career in the R.C.M.P., climate change, and his desire to keep teaching others about the Western Arctic and Beaufort Delta.