Richard Edjericon

Member Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh

Richard Edjericon was first elected to represent the district of Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh in by election during the 19th Assembly in 2022 and was re-elected to the 20th Assembly later the next year.

A descendant of Treaty 8 Chipewyan signator Chief Oliver Edjericon, Richard Edjericon was born and raised in Little Buffalo River near Fort Resolution. He attended Diamond Jenness Secondary High School in Hay River and Akaitcho Hall in Yellowknife.

Obtaining his journeyman carpenter’s certification from Thebacha College in Fort Smith, Mr. Edjericon has nearly four decades of experience as a journeyman certified carpenter working through out the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in residential and commercial construction.

Eventually his work in construction brought him to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation as the North Slave Maintenance Coordinator. He would also become the General Manager for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation Housing Division.

Mr. Edjericon’s dedication to his community led him to seek the position of Elected Head Chief for Dettah and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, holding that office from 1999 to 2003. He also became the Acting Grand Chief Spokeperson on behalf of the Akaitcho Chiefs for the Akaitcho Territory Government. He later joined the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board in 2007 and soon became chair, reappointed to this position in 2011.

Mr. Edjericon’s proudest moments include settling boundary disputes, signing political accords, creating fairer nation to nation relationships, and fostering economic development. As MLA he brings with him a passion for a fairer, more prosperous North, and a great depth of knowledge in housing, economics, and politics. He lives in Ndilo with his wife, Aleida.”

Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh Electoral District

Committees

Tu Nedhé - Wiilideh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Phone
Extension
12185
Mobile
Constituency Office
Email

Statements in Debates

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)

Take all my time, add another ten minutes. I'm just kidding. No, no. Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you, Minister, for that response.

So you talked about the involvement of your board. How about the independent board? I know BDIC has an independent board. Can you let me know how were they involved in this bill and what kind of comments and feedback were you getting from them as well. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, I I like the discussion we're having here right now. In regards to government rebranding and, you know, you have to think about that too as well. I know, you know you know, we take a look at housing corporation, NWT Housing Corporation. They went through a whole exercise and at the end, they called it Housing NWT. But the policies are still the same. The people are still the same. The monies are still the same. Everything I mean, when you really look at it, it's just a different set of clothes the next day they're wearing. Everything else is still the same.

In...

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Fort Resolution, we have a very high young population and we also have a beautiful arena that hasn't been opened for years. The GNWT and MACA spend a lot of money in the late '80s to tear down the Pine Point arena and to relocate it to the community of Fort Resolution and only to shut the doors to the young population years down the road.

Mr. Speaker, right now the hamlet in Fort Resolution are storing heavy equipment in the arena, and that may be hazardous and also a liability to the hamlet of Fort Resolution. Can the Minister commit to look at I know that he...

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Minister. Will the Minister direct his administrator to follow the Act and to ensure meetings are in the public and public documents are being disclosed to residents and to work with chief Louis Balsillie, DKFN, and president Arthur Beck, Fort Resolution Metis Council? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.