L. Gail Gossfeld-McDonald is a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and proud Iskwe (woman) and First Nations educator from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) located in Adhesion to Treaty 5 territory at Nelson House, Manitoba. NCN has been a Gakino’amaage Community Partner since 2020. Gail graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba at the Winnipeg Education Centre (WEC) and acquired a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration in 2009 from UM as well. Gail has had numerous, incredible opportunities and experiences and worked with many awesome students and people! For this, Gail is forever grateful.

From 1982-2023, Mrs. Gossfeld-McDonald has worked in an array of positions in Manitoba school divisions and has a passion for First Nations Control of First Nations Education (FNCFNE). The bulk of her career has been spent at NCN with the Nisichawayasihk Nehetho Culture & Education Authority (NNCEA). She’s been a classroom teacher, a specialty teacher, an elementary school Vice-Principal, a secondary school Principal, and recently retired Director of Education for the NNCEA.