Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Member Monfwi

Jane Weyallon Armstrong was elected to the 20th Assembly to represent the constituency of Monfwi. Ms. Armstrong was elected to the 19th Assembly during a by-election to represent the constituency of Monfwi.

Ms. Weyallon Armstrong was born in Fort Rae, Northwest Territories. Currently residing in Behchoko, Northwest Territories, her impactful journey has left a lasting mark on her community.

Having served as President of the Native Women’s Association from 2019 to 2021, Ms. Weyallon Armstrong collaborated with board members on the National Inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls final report. Her commitment to the cause has been a driving force in addressing crucial issues.

Ms. Weyallon Armstrong’s extensive involvement in community governance includes roles such as a Community Government of Behchoko Councillor (2009–2013, 2017–2021, June 2021 to July 2021) and Tlicho Government Assembly Member (Consensus Government) from 2009 to 2013. Additionally, she contributed by being on the Mackenzie Valley Impact Review Board from 2020 to 2021.

With a career spanning over 25 years at the Dogrib Divisional Board of Education (now Tlicho Community Services Agency), Ms. Weyallon Armstrong’s impact reached the lives of high school students from various communities. Her roles as Residence Manager and later as Coordinator, Community Liaison, and Student Transition Support Services showcased her dedication to education and community development.

Ms. Weyallon Armstrong’s educational journey includes graduating from Sir John Franklin Territorial High School in Yellowknife, where she resided at Akaitcho Hall. She earned a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Politics and a Minor in Native Studies from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1994, she obtained her Social Work Diploma from Aurora College, Thebacha Campus, and in 1992, she earned her Child and Youth Care Worker Diploma from Mount Royal College.

Ms. Weyallon Armstrong, in partnership with her spouse, have raised their daughter, and now revel in the role of proud grandparents to a grandson. Ms. Weyallon Armstrong possesses a range of interests that extend to sewing, reading, and engaging in various cultural activities. Her longstanding commitment to volunteering for fundraising events and field trips underscores her dedication to community well-being.

Monfwi Electoral District

Committees

Accountability and Oversight
Social Development
Government Operations
Member Jane Weyallon Armstrong
Monfwi
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143

Statements in Debates

Question 257-20(1): Attendance Rates in Small Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain if the department has any plan moving forward to help increase attendance rates in schools, especially in the small community? Thank you.

Question 257-20(1): Attendance Rates in Small Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just like what Mr. Hawkins said, to my favorite Minister, ECE, but housing is still my favorite. So, Mr. Speaker, so this is for the ECE. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, attendance rates in small communities for junior kindergarten to grade 12 is on the downward trend when you look at the data over the last ten years. Aside from COVID19, can the Minister explain the reasons why school attendance rates are trending downward? Thank you.

Committee Motion 23-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to Committee Report 220(1), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act, within 120 days. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Member’s Statement 253-20(1): School Attendance
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

Life after high school is a choice young people must make, whether to pursue higher education, training, work, living life off the grid, or to travel, but travelling requires money to pay for the trips.

Mr. Speaker, according to the statistics, between 2017 to 2021, small community attendance rates for grade 9 dropped by 10 point from 79 to 69, an even bigger decline is between 2012 to 2021 where small community attendance rate for grade 6 dropped by 21 points from 89 to 68 percent. That is an alarming rate. These are extremely...

Committee Motion 21-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Records Retention and Destruction, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories include specifics on record retention and destruction in the development of the regulations for the Missing Persons Act. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 19-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Titling Bills, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the House refers the matter of titling bills to the Standing Committee on Procedures and Privileges to review and consider the current conventions in the titling of bills and if those conventions should be expanded. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 17-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Training Specific to Missing Persons Act, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories establish training specific to the Missing Persons Act and its responsible, culturally appropriate usage for justices, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, nonprofit staff, and shelter workers. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 15-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Leadership, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Committee motion. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with Indigenous governments and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to establish a committee of local and community Indigenous leaders when a missing persons investigation is underway to aid with search and rescue operations, including the involvement of traditional knowledge, and facilitate communication with the affected family and loved ones. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Bill 2, Missing Persons Act, was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development on February 26th, 2024. It was important to the committee that the bill be reviewed thoroughly but also with urgency as the committee has heard strong feedback that this legislation needed to be in place as soon as possible.

Throughout the committee's review, the committee consistently received feedback that reflected two sides to the issue of missing person cases:

On one hand, it was expressed to the committee that everything needs to happen as quickly as possible in a...

Question 257-20(1): Attendance Rates in Small Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to provide more departmental resources to and work with closely with district education authorities and divisional education councils across the NWT to help increase attendance rates in small communities? Thank you.