Sheryl Yakeleya

Member Dehcho

Mrs. Yakeleya was elected to the 20th NWT Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Dehcho.

Mrs. Sheryl Brenda Yakeleya was born and raised in Fort Providence. NT.  During her younger life, she lived on the land with her parents. Mrs. Yakeleya has also resided in Fort Simpson, Yellowknife, Norman Wells, and Tulita, NWT. She holds a Business Administration diploma and Office Administration certifcate from Aurora College, as well as a Training of Trainers certificate from the Nechi Institute. 

For many years Mrs. Yakeleya has dedicated herself to serving community, by talking to people and working for them. She served as a Board Member for the Native Women’s Association and has volunteered with a variety of community social events. It was this active involvement that inspired the people of her community to encourage her to serve residents at the highest level as an elected politician.

Prior to being elected Mrs. Yakeleya worked in the Indigenous Community Wellness Division in Yellowknife, a Contracts Administrator for the Norman Wells Housing Corporation and most recently as a Family Mentor Worker with the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre, and Caretaker for the Seniors Home in Fort Providence. She also was employed as a Community Program Coordinator promoting community wellness and justice.

In her spare time, Mrs. Yakeleya loves to read, sew moose hair tufting, sing, clean, and organize.

Mrs. Yakeleya is married to Mr. Norman Yakeleya, former MLA for the Sahtu in the 15th, 16th, and 17th Assemblies, as well as former Dene National Chief. Together they have 6 children, 3 sons and 3 daughters, and 3 granddaughters.

Dehcho Electoral District:

Committees

Sheryl Yakeleya
Dehcho
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320

Statements in Debates

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I really elders in the community have talked to me, and I've been I went to visit some elders when I was campaigning and going to visit them when I go back to Providence to stay, and they talked about having nobody to call after hours when if they don't have family members. So they call the health centre, and the nurse can't leave the building. She cannot leave the well, the nurses are not allowed to leave the building. So they can't even go and assist an elder that fell down. And they have nobody else to call so they call the RCMP. And the RCMP too, they're inundated...

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

Yes, thank you. And thank you to the Member for that. I apologize for that. The reason that it's hard on me is because I'm it's a close family member. And I went to see him when I was in Edmonton the last time.

So the next thing I have is what policy change can the Minister make so this is the last family that goes through this? Thank you.

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

I think that would be very useful because I think a lot of times well, it's just my own perspective that there's the thought, but there's just not the know how to develop a plan and get everything in place to ensure that on the maybe year later they have a full program where people can go to and take part in a treatment program. And also look at maybe even staying there for an additional time period after they're finished the treatment program as part of aftercare and then integrate back into the community. I've even thought about using this type of a model for inmates that come out of jails...

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

Thank you. And the question I have is how is the because there's a rising demand for treatment, addictions treatment. How is the department addressing the rising demand for alcohol addictions treatment program? Thank you.

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

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, if an individual who is living off the land due to various circumstances, including with the intent to seek sobriety and improve their life for the better, does the Minister agree that such an individual ought to be entitled to some level of social assistance? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to the income assistance regulations, an applicant is required to provide a home address before assistance is granted. So if a person is homeless and does not have a fixed home address, can the Minister confirm if that person will be denied eligibility to receive income assistance? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know of two constituents who are in a unique and unfortunate set of circumstances involving income assistance.

Mr. Speaker, there are two constituents in my riding who are a couple and are in a situation where neither of them have jobs. They don't have housing accommodations or any support of any kind. This couple, sadly, is caught up in the addiction process. They decided to go out and live on the land together because they wanted to sober up and, in doing so, they also attempted to get their income assistance. But they were denied and told they were ineligible to...

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

Thank you. That's all I have for now, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am looking at we could bring up, like in my riding, there's longterm and continuing care services. There's lots of my constituents or the older people that have to move to Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Simpson, or even in some cases, to Behchoko. It's tough on them. So I wanted to look at possibly looking at having longterm care in one of my communities. Because the riding is I know Dehcho is a big place but the riding the Dehcho is, again Fort Providence, Kakisa, Hay River Reserve, and Enterprise. And there are people that, you know, want to stay home. They want to...

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, I spoke of well, talking about medical travel. I looked at the and it looks like there's a significant drop in the main estimates from 20222023 to 20242025. That's a huge number that it dropped. And I brought up a constituent concern last week about that individual that was in Edmonton, could not be brought back to the North because an incident happened in Edmonton. And this individual had paid taxes all his life in the North. He needed assistance to come home. And I mentioned that his health was taking a toll for the worst. Well, I regret to inform this...