Rita Arey

Acting President

Beaufort-Delta Region, Aklavik, NT

Re - Appointment May 2025

Rita is Metis and she is born and raised in Aklavik. Rita was privileged to grow up with her grandmother who spoke Gwich’in fluently. She also had her late mother, aunts, and extended family to guide and support her. These strong women in her life showed leadership, compassion, mental and emotional strength, and spirituality. Rita has always had a passion to help others and is a strong leader and advocate for her people.

Since 2016, Rita has been on the Aklavik District Education Council. She finds this very rewarding as she has been involved in the hiring of new teaching staff, and in the day-to-day activities of the school. Rita worked in the public sector with GNWT for over 37 years and retired from the Department of Health and Social Services in 2015.

She demonstrates a commitment to women in leadership through her professional and personal life and is looking forward to advancing the Council’s mandate and objectives. As a Board Member, Rita will strive to uphold the role and image of the Council, as a public agency mandated to advance equality for women and girls.

Kavia Elemie

Sahtu Region, Deline, NT Appointed January 2026

Kavia Elemie is from Deline, Northwest Territories, and is a passionate advocate for the well-being of women, children, and families in her community. As a newly appointed board member of the Status of Women Council of the NWT, she brings enthusiasm, dedication, and a strong desire to create meaningful, positive change across the region. She is excited to grow in her role while learning from and collaborating with fellow board members.

In her professional life, Kavia has been serving as the Daycare Manager at Tudze Daycare and Preschool since August 2024. Through her work, she plays a vital role in nurturing and supporting young children during their early years, helping to build a strong foundation for the next generation in her community.

Kavia is also a proud and devoted parent of one child, with another on the way in July 2026. She embraces this exciting new chapter in her life with joy and anticipation, bringing the same care, energy, and commitment to both her family and her work.

Shelley Browne

Vice President

North Slave Region, Yellowknife Re - Appointed March 2025

Shelley is a proud Northerner who lived from birth to her early teens in Kugluktuk, Fort Simpson and Yellowknife. She returned to Yellowknife in 2019, where she currently holds a management position with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) .

Shelley was a frontline community services worker in northern British Columbia for many years, managing and delivering programming to support women and children experiencing abuse, violence and trauma. She  later worked on issues related to missing and murdered women and girls in northwestern British Columbia, including advocating for safe transportation corridors along the Highway of Tears.

In her personal life, Shelley has volunteered extensively in a governance capacity with  non-profit organizations that support women and children. In addition to her work with the Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories, she has served for decades as a Board member with women’s shelters, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and community counselling and daycare support organizations.

Shelley is passionate about gender equity in the political arena. She is a former elected school trustee and city councilor and has mentored and worked tirelessly to support women in elected leadership. She is a trained facilitator and has delivered workshops for the GNWT Gender Equity Division’s Campaign Schools for Women that help women overcome the challenges and barriers they face when considering running for elected office.

Shelley greatest pride is her three adult daughters, all of whom are strong, independent, compassionate and principled young women who are blazing their own trails toward a more equitable society and world.