The NTHSSA is pleased to spotlight Gary Yendo, a Community Health Worker in Wrigley. 

Gary was born and raised in the Northwest Territories and attended school at Chief Julian Yendo. He grew up on the land, spending his time trapping, hunting, and harvesting.

Working for the last 15 years as a CHW has been rewarding for Gary, who says it’s been an opportunity for him to help his people, especially the Elders. Pursuing a career as a CHW was a way for him to give back to his community.

While it can be challenging to work in an isolated community, working with limited resources, Gary says it’s also been a unique opportunity to garner knowledge and information from workers from different walks of life.

Gary says it takes more commitment than people not in the field realize to become a skilled CHW, but he’s always working to “be the best I can be.”

When not at work, Gary can be found fishing, trapping, camping on the river in the fall, and picking blueberries.

“Life’s great up here.”