Staff Profiles
Gaylord Knott
Human Resource Manager
Gaylord Knott is a proud member of the Ojibway nation; born and raised in the First Nation Territory of Curve Lake located in southern Ontario. Gaylord completed his undergraduate degree at Trent University in Business Administration with an emphasis in Native Management and Economic Development. Upon completion of his formal education in 1995, he began working in a management capacity, for a non-profit Aboriginal organization, which he advocated for employment and training programs for youth between the ages of 16 to 25 years old. In 2000, Mr. Knott was promoted to the position of Executive Director of the organization. That same year he was elected to band council and severed a two year term overseeing the portfolios for Economic Development, Personnel Committee, Employment and Training for the Curve Lake First Nation. It was at this point in time in Gaylord’s career that he become aware of how different the employment standards are for First Nation peoples working on reserve, compared to First Nation peoples working off reserve. In 2003, Mr. Knott relocated his family to Thunder Bay Ontario, so that his wife Shelley could obtain her post secondary education in the social work field. At that time Gaylord enrolled into the Human Resource Management program at Confederation College. In 2004, after completion of the HR program Gaylord began employment with a non-for-profit education authority, Northern Nishnawbe Education Council, which serviced 27 First Nation communities located in North Western Ontario. In 2006, Gaylord was presented with a unique opportunity to work for one of two, unionized Anishnawbe organizations located in Thunder Bay. Between professional and personal time Gaylord’s overall goal in life is to, “help people to help themselves” and he has always lived by this code, by working for Aboriginal non-for-profit organizations that mandate is to improved Aboriginal peoples everyday life. During the summer months Gaylord and his family spend time with the Gustafson family travelling to various Pow Wows in Minnesota and North Western Ontario.
