Gordon John Blackned was born out on the trapline at a remote lake five kilometers northeast of Old Factory Lake, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Wemindji, Quebec. He was taken away at the age of eight to residential school in the south where he obtained most of his elementary, highschool and university education and receiving a teaching diploma from McGill University in Montreal.

He was subsequently recruited by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to teach in the small community of Rupert’s House (now Waskaganish) for a period of three years. It was here where he met his wife-to-be Sarah (Weistche) and began to raise a family. 

 During the advent of the “James Bay Project” together with the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, he was employed by the Grand Council of the Crees (of Quebec) and the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, during the implementation phase of the Agreement. He returned to the classroom when a vacant position became available in his home community under the employ of the Cree School Board, followed by several years as school principal and Director of Education Services. In 1995, Gordon continued on to become the Director General. Since the headquarters of the Cree School Board was located in Mistissini (Quebec), Gordon had to move his family there. He occupied this position for eleven years (1995-2006). Subsequently he ran for political office and was elected Chairman of the Board, which he held for five years. 

 In 2011, Gordon was nominated and elected to the office of Chief of Waskaganish. Following a two-year absence from politics he was elected  to both local Council member and regional Cree Nation Government/Grand Council of the Crees of Eeyou Istchee representative for Waskaganish.  

 In 2016, Gordon was appointed by the GCC(EI) as a Board member to the Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board and subsequently elected by the Board members as Chairperson in 2018 and remains in the position until October 2021. He is also a member of the Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement Implementation Committee 

He resides in Waskaganish where he occasionally practises his traditional pursuits such as goose, moose and small game hunting with his son and grandsons.  Gordon and his wife Sarah had four children, losing their oldest son in a tragic vehicle collision in 2012. He left behind his wife and six children. Their two daughters now have a combined nine children while his youngest son has one boy. They also have six great grandchildren.