Insightful Leadership - Chief Tizya-Tramm - Facing today's challenges through traditional and scientific paradigms

Dana Tizya-Tramm left his small home community of Old Crow in the Yukon Territory of Canada to move to the city lights of Vancouver, British Columbia. Feeling that there was a calling in life beyond his corporate job and upward mobility, Dana returned home to Old Crow. Old Crow has a population of 300, is situated inside the Arctic Circle, and has no road access. Home to the Vuntut Gwich'in, Dana reconnected with his culture and traditions in Old Crow. At age 31, he became one of the youngest elected Chiefs of the Government of the Vuntut Gwich'in. Since being elected as Chief, Dana has appeared before a U.S. Congretional Subcommittee in Washington regarding the protection of traditional calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou herd in Alaska from oil and gas exploration. He has also immersed himself in negotiations with the Yukon government on the Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan, and declared a state of emergency in Old Crow due to climate change. We were fortunate to have this insightful conversation with Chief Tizya-Tramm regarding the challenges facing the Vuntut Gwich'in, Canada and the world.