Clayton Kootenay, CEO-Indigenous Knowledge & Wisdom Centre

Mr. Kootenay brings a diverse background and unique insight to the IKWC team with a wealth of

knowledge and experience being actively involved in the Indigenous community. He has attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Native Studies from the University of Alberta in 1997 and has been working for the Indigenous community ever since.

He started his career working for his First Nation, Alexander, in 1997 as a Youth Program Coordinator. In 1998, he was recruited to work for Treaty Six as their Youth Program Coordinator. He soon found his niche with Oteenow Employment and Training Society. His first

position was their Marketing and Communications Director and Youth Program Coordinator from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, he took over the role of Executive Director until 2009.

While at Oteenow, Mr. Kootenay successfully managed the design, delivery, and implementation of a multimillion-dollar organization. He assisted in the development and implementation of policies and procedures that laid the foundation for the successful

management of Oteenow.

Mr. Kootenay spearheaded the creation of the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre

(IKWC) Ltd. The organization was born out of the Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and Treaty 8 Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) for First Nations Education in Alberta 2010-2020. IKWC open its doors

in the spring of 2017, its mandated to provide 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th level educational support services to band operated schools in the Treaty No. 6, Treaty No. 7 & Treaty No. 8 territory in Alberta. Mr. Kootenay has been the Chief Executive Officer of IKWC since 2017.

Kihcihkaw askî-Sacred Land is the first urban Indigenous ceremonial and cultural grounds for

Indigenous people living in Edmonton. It began under the auspices of Native Counselling Services of Alberta. With Mr. Kootenay’s assistance, IKWC oversaw it’s eventual opening with

the support of the IKWC Chief’s Steering Committee along with the City of Edmonton.

Mr. Kootenay has also assisted in the creation of Manitou Asiniy-Iniskim-Tsa Xani Center Inc.

Its’ mandate is the rematriation of a sacred stone. Mr. Kootenay currently sits as a founding Board of Director along with 6 other board members from Alberta First Nations and one member from the Royal Alberta Museum.

Mr. Kootenay has sat on several boards over his 27-year career. He was Chair for Homeward

Trust Edmonton for five years. Homeward Trust Edmonton has a budget of 50 million dollars

and is a volunteer board. Its goal is to end homelessness in Edmonton. In addition, Mr.

Kootenay served as a board member for the Alexander First Nation Education Authority for

seven years.

Mr. Kootenay currently volunteers as the Assistant Coach for the Enoch Oilers U9 Hockey

Team and has helped in previous years with minor hockey for Alexander.



Mr. Kootenay is an accomplished sculptor and painter, as a graduate of Victoria School of the

Performing and Visual Arts. He has sold over 250 pieces of work that can be found in private

collections throughout the world.