Richard Edjericon

Member du Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh 

Circonscription électorale de Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh

Richard Edjericon a été élu pour la première fois dans la circonscription de Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh lors de la 19e Assemblée en 2022 et a été réélu à la 20e Assemblée l’année suivante. Descendant du chef Oliver Edjericon, signataire du traité n° 8 conclu avec les Chipewyans, Richard Edjericon est né et a grandi à Little Buffalo River, près de Fort Resolution. Il a fréquenté l’école secondaire Diamond Jenness à Hay River et l’Akaitcho Hall à Yellowknife.

Titulaire d’un certificat de compagnon charpentier délivré par le Collège Thebacha de Fort Smith, M. Edjericon compte près de quarante ans d’expérience en tant que compagnon charpentier certifié. Il a travaillé aux Territoires du Nord-Ouest et au Nunavut dans le domaine de la construction résidentielle et commerciale.

Son travail dans le secteur de la construction l’a finalement amené à travailler pour Habitation Territoires du Nord-Ouest en tant que coordonnateur de l’entretien du Slave Nord. Il est également devenu directeur général de la division du logement de la Première Nation des Dénés Yellowknives.

Le dévouement de M. Edjericon envers sa collectivité l’a amené à briguer le poste de chef élu de Dettah et de la Première Nation des Dénés Yellowknives, qu’il a occupé de 1999 à 2003. Il est également devenu le grand chef porte-parole par intérim des chefs du territoire d’Akaitcho pour le gouvernement du territoire d’Akaitcho. Il a ensuite rejoint l’Office d’examen des répercussions environnementales de la vallée du Mackenzie en 2007, dont il est rapidement devenu le président, avant d’être reconduit à ce poste en 2011.

Les réalisations dont M. Edjericon est le plus fier sont le règlement de différends frontaliers, la signature d’accords politiques, l’instauration de relations plus équitables entre les nations et la promotion du développement économique. En tant que député, il apporte sa passion pour un Nord plus juste et plus prospère, ainsi que ses connaissances approfondies dans les domaines du logement, de l’économie et de la politique. Il vit à Ndilo avec sa femme, Aleida.

Committees

Tu Nedhé - Wiilideh
Bureau

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Boîte
1320
Phone
Extension
12185
Mobile
Bureau de circonscription

Déclarations dans les débats

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 167)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yeah, I agree that, you know, the schools have changed from then to now where it is today. You know, after April 1st, 1969, the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church have assumed the contract for 16 years with the GNWT and then the last school ended in 1996, so.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank the Premier for tabling this document, you know, looking into my questions that I had put forward back in June.

In light of the fact that the GNWT received federal funding to operate schools after April 1st, 1969, the cutoff date for the federal day school class...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 167)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Lee Mandeville who is here watching his son page here today, I think Zack. Oh, he's over there. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 167)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to thank Caitlin Cleveland for putting this Private Member's bill forward. And I agree with my colleagues, the issue of dental hygienists in the communities are needed. And I come from small communities and, you know, it's welcome. This should have been done a long time ago. And, and so, Mr. Chairman, I just want to say that I will be supporting this bill. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 167)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Premier. Could you please elaborate on your ongoing discussions or collaboration between the GNWT and the federal government to address the historical mistreatment and cultural alienation and experience by Indigenous students in the NWT operating schools after April 1st, 1969, particularly in light of the federal government's responsibility in funding these institutions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 167)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I talked about the federal Indian day school class action lawsuit. This lawsuit was based on physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and culture genocide. You know, this class action lawsuit covered 650 First Nations throughout Canada and 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. Those compensations that were paid out were anywhere from level 5 to level 5, or $10,000 to $200,000.

Mr. Speaker, I've been getting a lot of calls, and constituents in my riding that were talking about how about the students after 1969. Because when you...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 167)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I stand before you and this Assembly with a crucial matter that I have spoken of before and demand immediate attention. It is an issue that pertains to the rights and wellbeing of our Indigenous people who have attended schools under the purview of the Government of the Northwest Territories after April 1st, 1969.

As many of you are aware, a landmark battle was fought by Indigenous survivors who attended the federallyrun day school. This battle resulted in the federal day school class action lawsuit wherein compensation was made available to those who had suffered...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 166)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to bring a serious concern before the House. It has been over three months since the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs dissolved the elected Fort Resolution council and then appointed an administrator to oversee the local government.

Mr. Speaker, at this time MACA Minister said that this appointment was a significant step to the hamlet of Fort Resolution towards having a strong and stable community government. But, Mr. Speaker, isn't it ironic that the Minister's actions have done just the opposite? Instead of a stable community government with...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 166)

Thank you for that response. I guess my last question would be for the Minister is what does she feel will be the biggest impacts for NWT businesses with the proposed amendments of this bill? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 166)

Like, again, I know the rebranding portion, you know, I mean, we're changing the housing corporation to Housing NWT. Maybe we could have build ten houses just on that note, all the letterheads and everything else, the cost of doing all that. You know, this can be just a simple fix, you know. All you got to do is where it says BDIC, just put a little polar bear there or something like that. And the other ones BDC, that's a federal organization. Put a Canada flag or something there. But anyway, I guess I'm just wondering, Madam Chair, can you maybe elaborate a little bit more as to how your...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 166)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll just keep my comments short. I guess the overall, I've been around for a while here in Aboriginal politics. And, you know, when we keep thinking about the early days of the Northern Accord in 1989, was more or less again another way of transferring a lot of these authorities from Ottawa to the GNWT.

And in 2004, they created the Aboriginal Summit and the Aboriginal Summit, again, was made of all these Aboriginal leaders in the Northwest Territories and trying to work on an arrangement with GNWT. And my colleague, Ron Bonnetrouge here from the Deh Cho, had talked...