Dena Cho is a Ross River Dena Council owned and operated environmental management company
Our team provides professional services for various projects in remediation, mining, and contaminated sites that include environmental assessments, planning, monitoring, technical reviews, and community consultations.
At our core, we are dedicated to including Ross River Dena citizens in environmental initiatives and projects throughout the Kaska territory while Kaska values guide the work we undertake. We firmly believe in the protection of the natural environment, increasing Indigenous participation, obtaining benefits, and facilitating training opportunities for the Ross River Dena.
Our team:
Cassia Jakesta, General Manager and Environmental Scientist
Jody Inkster, Biologist and Project Manager
Danika Maje, Field Technician
Chris Bemister, Lab Technician
Jeremiah Shorty, Field Technician
Mark Lintick, Field Technician
Jonah LaFleur, Field Technician
Devon Skidmore, Field Technician
Logan Tom, Field Technician
Kobe O’Brien-Clark, Field Technician
Camille Jakesta, Admin
Faro Mine Remediation Project
Dena Cho has participated in various aspects of the Faro Mine Remediation Project. In 2020, we developed a community-based revegetation strategy to increase Ross River Dena participation in the project. This strategy focused on a tree planting program, seed collection program, and vegetation sampling. You can find more information about the programs below:
Wolverine Mine Environmental Monitoring
One of Dena Cho’s long-term projects has been the environmental monitoring program at the Wolverine mine site. Dena Cho is working together with Ausenco Sustainability ULC to collect data on surface water, discharge, groundwater, and potable water.
North Canol Trail Clean-Up
Dena Cho is working on two North Canol projects. One project is with Ausenco Sustainability Inc. to remove waste along the road. In 2022, about 100 feet of telegraph wire and old barrels were removed. In 2023, we removed and disposed of additional barrels and wire.
Our second project with Ausenco includes Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessments of historically contaminated sites.