Treaty coordinator and member Eric Anderson works on Gitga’at First Nation’s (GFN’s) Treaty Team. Eric brings a people-first approach, enthusiasm, and pride to his job at GFN. Eric returned to work for our community after graduating from the University of Northern British Columbia.
We asked Eric questions about his work, passion projects, and local issues.
How long have you been working for GFN?
I think it has been almost four years since I joined, or at least that long since going to Hartley Bay.
What kinds of projects do you work on?
A lot of the work I do supports the negotiators at the table. Sometimes, that’s research or planning; other times, I schedule meetings and prepare slide updates. Soon, we’ll start work on a new project – I’m looking forward to it!
What do you love about your job, and what makes it challenging?
I love feeling valued, and the people I’m surrounded by want me to succeed. I also enjoy the challenging thought processes required for some work I have never seen before. In addition to that, I enjoy being able to bring in some important resources to the Nation.
What initiatives have you worked on that have helped grow the community?
I helped with the Treaty Related Measures (TRMs) projects, federally funded programs that allowed us to consolidate important information. The results of the TRMs come up more often than I anticipated.
What are the current local issues you're most passionate about?
Right now, I would have to say housing. I'd like to see some new houses in Hartley Bay. Renovations on and off reserve are also important to me.
Does your background in tourism help you in your current role? If so, how?
I think, in small ways, it does. People skills always transfer over to other jobs. Tourism has an element of throwing you a lot of condensed info at once. Negotiations are similar in requiring some distilling before being ready to serve.
How do you and Paul work together?
Former GDC CEO Paul Paterson was a mentor and guiding force for several years when imposter syndrome and anxiety kicked in. He's encouraged me to pursue a Master's degree and set me on the path of negotiations.
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