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

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Would the Minister be able to give me a breakdown by community how this money is spent for them by community for...

Question 123-20(1): Healthy Living in Northwest Territories Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of health. What is the Minister doing to engage local people to support healthy living outcomes that are healthy living outcomes in the community? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 91-20(1): Diabetes Prevention
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister provide a dollar amount for how much the NWT healthcare system is paying to provide the proper healthcare treatment for people with diabetes in the NWT? Thank you.

Question 91-20(1): Diabetes Prevention
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of health. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what sort of preventative and proactive measures our government is taking to lower the rate of individuals with diabetes in the NWT? Thank you.

Member’s Statement 101-20(1): Diabetes In Indigenous Communities – Time to conclude allowed
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the impacts of diabetes on our residents, particularly on Indigenous people and communities in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, according to a March 2023 article from the US National Institute of Health, diabetes among Indigenous people in Canada is at epidemic levels. The Canadian Medical Association Journal has said that inequities in the social, cultural, historical, economic, and political determinants of health, lack of access to nutritionally adequate food, and barriers to proper health care, played major roles in the diabetes epidemic...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 91-20(1): Diabetes Prevention
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Thank you. And thank you to the Minister for that. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister share whether she considers diabetes to be an epidemic within the NWT? Thank you.

Question 91-20(1): Diabetes Prevention
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Health and Social Services provide a figure for how many people are living with diabetes in the NWT today? Thank you.

Member’s Statement 101-20(1): Diabetes In Indigenous Communities – Time to conclude allowed
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.

Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to my colleagues. Nutrition is taking a back seat with our food system, and that is just not right. It is literally killing our people. It is sending our residents to an early grave, and it must change. Our government, at every level government for that matter, must work to reverse the diabetes epidemic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.