Dahti Tsetso Shifts to New Role as Inaugural CEO of Our Land for the Future Trust
September 11, 2025
Mashteuiatsh September 12, 2025: After four years serving as the Deputy Director for the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI), Dahti Tsetso is stepping into an exciting new role. She will become the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the groundbreaking Our Land for the Future Trust, where she will help partners realize their vision for supporting Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship, and economic development across the Northwest Territories.
“Dahti has brought so much insight, wisdom, and warmth to the ILI team,” said Valérie Courtois the Executive Director of ILI. “She has a remarkable ability to bring people together. And most of all, she has a deep commitment to uplifting Indigenous self-determination and the inherent right of Nations to decide the future of their lands and waters. We will miss working with Dahti on a day-to-day basis, but we are happy to see her lead an initiative whose vision and values resonate with ours.”
Tsetso joined the ILI in 2021, when she quickly jumped into helping design and host the 2021 First Nations Guardians Gathering. Over the years, she has played in active role in advancing ILI’s strategic goals, particularly in the North.
“It has been my honour to work alongside the ILI team in our shared efforts to support Indigenous-led conservation, expand Guardians programs, and strengthen Indigenous Nationhood and leadership across the country,” said Tsetso. “I am deeply grateful for the teamwork, heart work, and dedication that defines this team, and I will carry our shared experiences and friendships forward with me into this next chapter.”
During her time at ILI, Tsetso helped lead ILI’s work to convene the historic NWT: Our Land for the Future partnership, which brings together 21 Indigenous Governments, federal and territorial governments, and private donors that is investing $375 million to support Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship across the Northwest Territories.
“I deeply grateful for ILI’s NWT team who worked tirelessly to secure the NWT: Our Land for the Future Agreement and its transformative vision for the NWT,” said Tsetso. “I view this new chapter as an evolution of the responsibilities I began in my ILI role, and I look forward to continued collaboration and camaraderie moving forward.”
The entire ILI team expresses a heartfelt mahsi cho to Dahti and extends our support and best wishes for this inspirating new role!
