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

Richard Edjericon
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 , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When our ancestors entered treaty 8 in the spirit of peace and friendship, they also did so with the understanding of the "medicine chest clause" and how it would significantly lasting commitments to health and well-being for our people. Through our oral history, we continue to remember and uphold these rights which are now constitutionally-protected under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. These rights have been further reinforced by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, UNDRIP, which this very House has adopted.

UNDRIP clearly affirms...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried.

---Carried

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Members, thank you. I'll go to the Member from the Sahtu. May I have the report of the Committee of the Whole.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the motion, staffing solution to rebuild and reform health care. Mr. Speaker, for me, I bring this book along wherever I go, and I raise it with committee and I raise it with my Cabinet Ministers whenever I can, and it talks about in the treaties it just so happens that along with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and Chief Drygeese, my great-great grandfather Oliver Edjericon also signed this treaty. And also, we got modern treaties as well. But most importantly is that the medicine chest is in our treaties, and it talks about health care. And right now, the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to working closely with myself and the Indigenous governments to develop new legislation to ensure that Indigenous communities dealing with this residential school graves never have to go through the experience like I did in my riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the other day I was talking about baby Alma, and my question is to the Minister of Justice.

I had a -- I was at a funeral yesterday in Dettah, and some of the elders had been talking to me and they were asking for an update on what's going on. So my question to the Minister is the baby -- baby Alma has been waiting years to bring her home, and the only way to do this is to investigate her cause of death is through the Coroner's Act. My question to the Minister is will the Minister of Justice initiate a proper investigation and bring her home...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in British Columbia, there's an agreement with the provincial government to establish a First Nations health authority. At the same time, some First Nations operates their own private health centres there as well. Can the Minister indicate if any -- sorry, indicate if health and social services were to consider the creation of First Nation health authorities here in the NWT while allowing community-based initiatives to be jump started to fill in the gap in the meantime? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 60)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to recognize the former Premier of the NWT from the 19th Assembly, Caroline Cochrane. And, also, I'd like to welcome Shalene Woodward and Anatasia Goulet. Mahsi.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 58)

I'd like to thank the Member from Frame Lake. I will now open the floor to general comments. Is there any general comments?

Okay, seeing none. Does the committee agree that there are no further general comments? Agreed?

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 58)

Thank you. It's been a long day already.

Mr. Speaker, again, your committee was been considering Bill 17 and Bill 18 and would like to report that 17 and 18 are ready for third reading. And, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.