Lila Fraser Erasmus

“Indigenous people are going through a very important era today.  In order for us to make effective change within our communities, we need programs and services that are based upon Indigenous values of community, as opposed to those that place more value upon the individual.”

Lila would like to see Indigenous communities create their governments based upon cultural principles and mechanisms.  She believes that Indigenous culture has much to offer larger society and once offered a forum to teach, Indigenous worldview will offer societies and governments an alternative way of interacting with each other, the animals and the land.  

Lila Fraser Erasmus is a descendent of the Dene Cree from Fort Chipewyan, Alberta on her father’s side and of the Northern Tuchone people of Mayo, Yukon on her mother’s side.  Lila’s parents are Peter Colin Fraser and Ellen Lewis.  Her two children, Darian Faith and Phoenix Roy Izidor, are a part of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) from Akaitcho Territory in Denendeh (otherwise known as the Northwest Territories).   theFor the past 25 years, they have all lived in the Yellowknives Dene Community of Ndilo, the home of approximately 300 YKDFN members.

Over the course of her career, Lila has accumulated several 15 years of management experience supervising and leading teams as the Manager and Proprietor of Bows and Arrows Inc., Manager of the Sacred Circle Project, a non-profit organization, and as the Manager, Community Justice Projects and Programs with
the GNWT.  In addition, she has policy-related experience in public service, as an Assistant Negotiator, Special Projects Officer and as an Implementation Negotiator.

Lila has worked at supporting community initiatives that promote Indigenous ways of healing through ceremony, spending time on the land and nurturing relationships.  She has a strong personal interest in both Indigenous issues and traditional healing and wellness and have demonstrated that commitment by volunteering on boards and agencies, such as the Tree of Peace, Native Women’s Association, and the NWT Wellness Society, all of which work to advance such issues.  Furthermore, She was on the leadership team, along with other Aboriginal women, advancing initiatives such as the “Walking With Our Sisters” Exhibit in Yellowknife in 2015, which was intended to promote community awareness for the murdered and missing Aboriginal women.

Lila has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Native Studies with the University of Lethbridge, Social Services Diploma, two Business Management Certificates, Conflict Resolution Certificate, two Project Management Certificates and most recently Lila has acquired her Master’s Degree in Dispute Resolution.  Her passion areas are in mediation and promoting the beautiful nature of Dene culture.

Lila’s thesis focused on Dene principles and mechanisms of resolving disputes and further examined how they can be used to inform our government programs and services:  her research has made her the leading expert in this field today.  She would like to use her research to support Indigenous communities in developing effective programs and services; governments to create policies that honour relationships; and, to work with businesses and organizations build bridges: offering a forum for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to work together.