Centering Indigenous Knowledge in Modern Governance. Nicole MorningStar is a distinguished Indigenous leader with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of governance, education, and culturally rooted community engagement. As the former Chief and Deputy Chief of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, she brings an unparalleled depth of expertise in high-level negotiations with territorial and federal governments.
At Avodahtec, she ensures that resilience strategies are not only technically sound but grounded in UNDRIP, OCAP® principles, and traditional knowledge systems (Dan K’i).
A Catalyst for Inclusive Resilience. Nicole serves as a vital bridge between technical assessments and community realities, leading Avodahtec’s efforts to integrate Indigenous worldviews into vulnerability frameworks and climate strategies. Her leadership is reinforced by academic rigor; she is an Instructor in the Indigenous Governance Degree program at Yukon University, where she helps shape future leaders in the field.
With specialized training in Land Claims and Guiding Circles, Nicole brings principled advocacy and lived experience to her work, advancing equity-driven, actionable strategies that honor the land, the waters, and the people who have stewarded them since time immemorial. A fierce and unwavering advocate for Yukon River salmon, Nicole champions protecting this vital species as inseparable from food sovereignty, cultural continuity, and Indigenous self-determination.
