Named for his uncle who advocated for the Inuit workforce in Iqaluit and who led a strike for the Inuit there in support of equal pay and equal rights, Albert Netser has carried on the tradition of advocating for his people. Originally from Coral Harbour, he moved to Rankin Inlet for a diploma in management studies in 2000, then to Iqaluit in 2002 to become one of the first two Inuk journeyperson linemen through the Power Line Technician Apprenticeship Program. Fourteen years later, he came back to Rankin Inlet to join Nunavut Arctic College as chair of construction trades, then was promoted to Dean of Trades and Technology in 2022. In 2025, he became co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief People and Culture Officer at Arctic Fresh. In recognition of his advocacy and how it changed the education system’s ability to recognize Inuit ways of knowing, learning and teaching, he was recognized with the King Charles the Third Coronation Medal.

When he first heard about the opportunity to train as a power lineman, Netser didn’t even know what the job involved. Travelling to every community in Nunavut to put in power lines to new buildings, to perform troubleshooting and maintenance, he saw many Inuit without jobs while there was construction happening and other times, he saw thriving communities with economic growth.

Netser reflects, “I have this in my heart that our people, the Inuit people, should be the least amount in poverty, where the land is rich, where there's mines and so much infrastructure growth¦ we should be at the forefront of the labor workforce and not on the back burner¦I see the resiliency of our people that might not have all the resources but they persevere, and they become so resourceful with whatever they have, and they make it work.”

At the trade school, he wanted to make sure students could learn as much as possible and gain valuable work experience. Conversations shifted to crafting programs around people and honouring Inuit learning styles rather than trying to fit people into programs. Thirty-eight students, some with no construction experience, ended up building a public housing project where a family now lives and later, students built three duplexes for student housing. From there, at Arctic Fresh, Netser transitioned from trades educator to employer, hiring Nunavut Arctic College graduates.

Helping him stay motivated have been good friends and good people. On difficult days, Netser makes a list of all the good his organization is doing. ’You don’t even think about the job description anymore, you don’t even think about your title anymore. You just look at yourself as a human being and go, ‘what good is it that I’m doing here?’” he reflects. He leaves the office with a grateful heart.

To prepare him, Netser has a management studies certificate and is four courses from receiving his diploma. When the power line training program came up he was unsure if he should pursue it or finish his diploma and the instructor urged him to pursue the apprenticeship given it was a rare opportunity and the diploma would always be there. Outside of his formal education, he learns through reading. He also suggests listening to YouTube, podcasts and mentors. “I have said time and time again to young people and to everybody around, if you are the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong place,” he asserts.

his advice for Indigenous students thinking of leaving their home community is based on his own experience of moving out of his home community not long after high school, a move Netser credits for the interesting career pathway he’s taken. “It’s one of those things where if you don't have opportunities at home, you gotta go out and go get that experience, go get that education. Home will always be home. To get a good professional education, depending on what it is, it could take three to five years … Five years of your life is not very much … in the trades, the reason they're called journeyperson is because they’ve got a journey along the way to get that certification,” he advises.

Thinking about overcoming obstacles, Netser recalls counselling students at Arctic College through his open door policy and observing how bad habits and unresolved trauma can derail or prevent progression in talented and intelligent Indigenous people who are full of hope. Netser looked for ways to help heal people through conversation and creating safe spaces.

To balance his wellbeing, Netser prioritizes his family including his wife, kids and grandchildren. He has a strong faith in God and finds gratitude even in difficult times. Sober from alcohol and substances, he practices radical ownership for his actions.

If he could give his younger self advice, Netser would encourage himself to read more. “It fills your mind, and when it fills your mind, you're filling the most important part of the body…. When we're feeding it good information… you get inspired by books, and then you inspire more people through that book you read, and then it starts changing not only your life but the people around you.”

When it comes to inspiration, Netser feels motivated by his belief in God which makes him want to continue to improve and serve people around him more. “I truly have a heart for our people, our Inuit, and they inspire me to…keep on fighting, they inspire me to keep on loving, they inspire me at the moment of discouragement and despair,” he confides. His wife also supports him and pushes him, too. Outside of his hard work, he also takes care of himself with vacations, hunting trips, and moments of enjoyment.

In closing, Netser shares, “I don't believe in luck anymore… but I believe that if you move towards what you want to accomplish… It's your actions that create what people call luck… We need you to go out and act on your ideas and your movement, because the world needs to see your talent and your gift, and the world is waiting. I believe that that individuals have been born for such a time as this to make a world change, and make history…and they're not too small, they're the right person, they're the right age, they're at the right location.”

After getting his start as one of the first Inuk power linemen, Albert Netser made a difference in trades career education at Nunavut Arctic College before moving on to be co-CEO of Arctic Fresh. Carrying on a family tradition of advocacy for his people made legendary by his namesake, he has a heart and passion for Inuit opportunity and works to create it every day in his job. A servant leader who doesn’t believe in luck, he works towards what he wants with his strong faith and love of community.

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.