Before becoming a MLA[3] in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Peterson was a two-term mayor of Cambridge Bay, between January 2000 and December 2003.
From March 2000 until December 2003 he served as the Kitikmeot director on the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM).
He was involved with municipal governments since first being elected in 1984 serving as either a councillor or as deputy mayor.
[7] They invest land claims payments in business ventures to create economic wealth for Kitikmeot Inuit.
From 1991 until 2004 Peterson provided political, social and business advice to the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.
He was a member of the NWT Business Credit Corporation for six years from 1993 to 1999, ending when Nunavut was created.