Mike Low

November 25, 2021

Mike Low is a Metis who was born and raised in Hay River, Northwest Territories (NWT), spending most of his youth on the land hunting and fishing on Great Slave Lake. After graduating from high school, he completed a diploma in Renewable Resource Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and a degree in Environmental Management from Royal Roads University. He has previously worked through the Hay River Metis Government Council as a technician with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans facilitating Indigenous fisheries management projects across the NWT. The projects included carrying out fish studies and monitoring fisheries in places like Great Bear Lake, Nahanni Park Reserve, and the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake (now referred to as the Thai Dene Nene Indigenous Protected Area).

Currently, Mike works as the coordinator for the Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) program with the Dehcho First Nations. This program facilitates aquatic research and monitoring in the Dehcho region. Through Dehcho AAROM, the Dehcho Guardians program was created which consisted of hiring two experienced land users from each community to patrol and monitor the watersheds in the traditional territory. Boats, equipment, and training were provided to equip the Guardians with the skills to assist in and carry out aquatic research and monitoring which includes fish studies, mercury research, youth ecology camps, permafrost run-off sampling, water quality sampling, contaminant sampling, and many other projects.