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 305-20(1): Eulogy for Peter Wilfred Canadien
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to remember Peter Wilfred Canadien from Fort Providence.

Peter was born and raised in Fort Providence. He came from a very large traditional family. Growing up, his family spent a lot of time out on the land where Peter learned the traditional way of life. In his early years, Peter attended Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River. Later he went on to Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife. He then moved back home to Fort Providence as he was needed to help his family during which time he fell in love with Phoebe Bonnetrouge. Together...

Motion 34-20(1): Supporting RCMP Response to Mental Health Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too think about and heard all the comments from the Members. I will support this motion but I would like the departments to look at how this will roll out in the small communities. It's good for us because we get another job; it would be a crisis intervention worker. And just to know how it's going to work in combination with health and social services, RCMP. That needs to be looked at. Otherwise, I will support the motion. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Yeah, thank you. I had four, now I have six. I'm very happy, thank you. And how many do we have how many more do we have coming for the Dehcho riding? Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Are those the ones that are currently in Fort Providence, or are they somewhere else? Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you. My question to the Minister is the 150 units, how many of those units are those new builds, public housing units, or market housing? And how many of them are going into the Dehcho riding, if they haven't already done so? Thank you.

Question 284-20(1): Mental Health Training
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister provide that information to me, and can the Minister commit to multiyear funding agreements for organizations that offer on the land programming? Thank you.

Question 284-20(1): Mental Health Training
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, and thank you to the Minister for that. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to ensuring that any mental health training provided to health centre staff is also offered to NGOs in the communities that work directly with the public? Thank you.

Member’s Statement 288-20(1): Mental health
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we know in the NWT our people are struggling with mental health challenges. Just over 56 percent of people in the NWT rate themselves as mentally well; so that's people that are thinking good about themselves. Indigenous people, and particularly former RS residential school students and people that went to residential school rate themselves a little lower than that as being mentally well.

Mr. Speaker, this is heartbreaking. We know in the NWT we have high rates of smoking, poor diets and activity, and heavy drinking. And, Mr. Speaker, and all of these stem...

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you. Mr. Chair, I will advise my constituents to go to this district office and apply for emergency repair programs. Hopefully yeah, thank you. That's the question I have. Hopefully they're eligible to receive that funding for their repairs as we're now in June, fall's going to come, and I would really like for them to have that support. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

The question is thank you. Thank you to the Minister. Can members that are I don't know if the housing that they're living in currently some of the members from the Hay River Reserve, if their housing units if they're privately owned units, can they still access the program?