Jessica Mitchell

Born in Yellowknife and raised on the shore of Great Slave Lake as a proud Woodyard wildling, Jessica’s family is rooted in this permafrost. Her father, Scott Mitchell, moved from Ontario at 18 to fight forest fires "for a summer" and quickly made the North his home. Her mother was born in Nunavik (Northern Quebec) and moved to the NWT with her family. Jessica's Inuit name, Ookpiala, means ‘Little Owl ' and was given to her by her mother, Ookpialook, at birth. 

 

With a background in community leadership and a former role as Deputy Director of YKWS, Jessica is passionate about the programs that have supported Northerners, including her own friends and family, for decades. Outside of work, she loves getting to be 'Auntie Jessie' to her niece and nephews, and uses all her free time to sew, bead, or knit.