Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Director, Economic Development, Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Silal is the Director of Economic Development and Communications for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in Yellowknife, where he leads economic strategy, intergovernmental relations and public communications. His work is focuses on advancing Indigenous rights through economic development. It includes advancing major infrastructure and resource-related files such as hydroelectric expansion, labour market development, land governance and municipal-Indigenous relations. He has overseen multi-million-dollar initiatives, negotiated agreements with territorial and municipal governments and led community-wide planning and data initiatives to support long-term economic self-determination. Silal holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable International Development and brings a disciplined, systems-focused approach to leadership, with strong interests in governance, leadership psychology, fitness and identity.