Brenda M. Gauthier, Languages Commissioner of the N.W.T.
Brenda M. Gauthier lives in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. She was born and raised in the Northwest Territories and is a member of the Deh Gáh Got’įę First Nation in Fort Providence.
Brenda has over thirty years of work experience in various positions within the Government of the Northwest Territories. A majority of her experience was working in the Corrections field of the Department of Justice. She worked as a Probation/Parole officer; and as the Warden of the Territorial Women’s Correctional Centre then at the Fort Smith Correctional Complex for a combination of thirteen years. Brenda made the transition to Yellowknife and held the positions of Associate Director of Human Resources Management, Special Advisor to the Minister Responsible for the Status of Woman and was also an Intergovernmental Relations Advisor for the Aboriginal Consultation and Aboriginal Relations division of the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Brenda returned to Fort Smith for a transfer assignment to the Chief Operating Officer position with the NTHSSA Fort Smith Region.
In 1993, Brenda obtained a Master’s Degree in the Faculty of Education, specializing in Leadership Studies in addition to a Bachelors degree of Social Work she had; both of which were obtained at the University of Victoria, British Columbia. Brenda worked to advance her education while working for the Department of Justice.
Brenda Gauthier took office of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories on January 11, 2021, and was appointed on February 5, 2021, for a four year term. Brenda has relocated the Office of the Languages Commissioner from Yellowknife to Fort Smith, where she currently resides.
The Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories is an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly. Her role is to promote the Office of the Official Languages Commissioner and to investigate, report and make recommendations to ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act.