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

Accountability and Oversight
Social Development
Public Accounts
Member Sheryl Yakeleya
Dehcho
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

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

Statements in Debates

Member’s Statement 219-20(1): Constituent’s Medical Travel Issues
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to discuss a constituent issue that was brought to my attention pertaining to medical travel.

Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents had recently gone to Edmonton on a weekend vacation and while he was away, he ended up getting hurt and had to go to the hospital because of his injuries. After this happened, the constituent contacted medical travel to inform them of his situation to seek support in returning home. However, medical travel has decided they will not provide him with any support to help him with his return travels to the NWT.

Mr. Speaker...

Committee Motion 8-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): Main Estimates 2024-2025, Deferral of Administrative and Support Services – Health and Social Services, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 19)

Thank you. And so that $208,000 a year, that's multiyear funding so they'll get that for three years?

Committee Motion 8-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): Main Estimates 2024-2025, Deferral of Administrative and Support Services – Health and Social Services, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 19)

Thank you. That's good to know because these xray machines help with early detection of illnesses if there's people that have TB, pneumonia, or lung issues, and can save a lot of time from people getting medevaced to Yellowknife or having to come for services here. If their illness is something like pneumonia, it'd just probably have to get them  I'm not a nurse but I've had pneumonia, so I've had to take antibiotics. But the only time I've got tested for that was here in Yellowknife, so. Yeah, so that's one's that I just needed to know, are all those machines in the communities working...

Committee Motion 5-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): Main Estimates 2024-2025, Deferral of Department – Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Yeah, thank you. I too want to say reiterate what the last two Members talked about. This department needs to work together and protect people. Crime rates in my region, I could say for a couple of the communities in my region, is very high. People are afraid, and lives are being destroyed because of the drug trade. And, yeah, so what I have to say, I guess, is give the police the support that they need to combat these crimes that are happening in our communities. It's sad to say that people in my community of Fort Providence can't even leave their homes unless there's somebody there to watch...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Looking back at directorate or when we go back and we look at all the staff that's in the Premier's office and executive and Indigenous affairs office, the organizational chart and account structural chart. I have people asking me why is the department so heavy on like, top heavy, and can some of those positions like, do they really need all of those positions in that office? Or and can some of that money be used in well, they're just saying it's top heavy. And that's what I wanted to say, it's top heavy and we could use money from those positions in other programs...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding for the Women's Initiatives and Native Women's Association and Status of Women Council, these they're all funded like for three they get multiyear funding; right? Or is it just one-year funding at a time? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you. That's all I have to say for that. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you. That's all I wanted to know. Thank you.

Member’s Statement 210-20(1): Congratulations to Dehcho Graduates
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today's statement I wanted to honour and provide congratulations to Dehcho residents who will be graduated and obtaining either their grade 12 diploma or a degree from their postsecondary studies.

Mr. Speaker, the names of these individuals, their achievement, and the institutions they're graduating from include:

Kelly Leishman from Fort Providence is obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a degree in drawing from the University of Alberta;

Annadette Bouvier who is obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vancouver;

Anonda Canadien is obtaining a...

Member’s Statement 197-20(1): Health Promotion in Schools
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the last sitting, I did several statements regarding health wellness and health promotion by our government. My statement today will be similar with particular focus on health promotion in schools.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that our government support the healthy learning and development of all our young people within every school across the NWT. Our government needs to ensure that our future generations develop skills and education necessary to have good healthy lives as they develop from adolescents to adulthood.

Mr. Speaker, as our children and...