Richard Edjericon

Member du Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh 

Circonscription électorale de Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh

Richard Edjericon a été élu pour la première fois dans la circonscription de Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh lors de la 19e Assemblée en 2022 et a été réélu à la 20e Assemblée l’année suivante. Descendant du chef Oliver Edjericon, signataire du traité n° 8 conclu avec les Chipewyans, Richard Edjericon est né et a grandi à Little Buffalo River, près de Fort Resolution. Il a fréquenté l’école secondaire Diamond Jenness à Hay River et l’Akaitcho Hall à Yellowknife.

Titulaire d’un certificat de compagnon charpentier délivré par le Collège Thebacha de Fort Smith, M. Edjericon compte près de quarante ans d’expérience en tant que compagnon charpentier certifié. Il a travaillé aux Territoires du Nord-Ouest et au Nunavut dans le domaine de la construction résidentielle et commerciale.

Son travail dans le secteur de la construction l’a finalement amené à travailler pour Habitation Territoires du Nord-Ouest en tant que coordonnateur de l’entretien du Slave Nord. Il est également devenu directeur général de la division du logement de la Première Nation des Dénés Yellowknives.

Le dévouement de M. Edjericon envers sa collectivité l’a amené à briguer le poste de chef élu de Dettah et de la Première Nation des Dénés Yellowknives, qu’il a occupé de 1999 à 2003. Il est également devenu le grand chef porte-parole par intérim des chefs du territoire d’Akaitcho pour le gouvernement du territoire d’Akaitcho. Il a ensuite rejoint l’Office d’examen des répercussions environnementales de la vallée du Mackenzie en 2007, dont il est rapidement devenu le président, avant d’être reconduit à ce poste en 2011.

Les réalisations dont M. Edjericon est le plus fier sont le règlement de différends frontaliers, la signature d’accords politiques, l’instauration de relations plus équitables entre les nations et la promotion du développement économique. En tant que député, il apporte sa passion pour un Nord plus juste et plus prospère, ainsi que ses connaissances approfondies dans les domaines du logement, de l’économie et de la politique. Il vit à Ndilo avec sa femme, Aleida.

Committees

Responsabilisation et supervision
Bureau de régie
Opérations gouvernementales
Richard Edjericon
Tu Nedhé - Wiilideh
Bureau

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Boîte
1320
Email
Courriel
Phone
867-767-9143
Extension
12185
Mobile
867-445-8298
Bureau de circonscription
Email
Courriel
Phone
867-447-0439

Déclarations dans les débats

Member’s Statement 562-20(1): Condition of K'alemi Dene School Facilities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke about the Kaw Tay Whee School in Dettah which is a half a century old and separated from a small gymnasium. The school is undersized, and the school must be replaced with a proper gymnasium attached so the students do not have to walk outside even during the freezing winter months to access it. Today I want to highlight another concern.

N'dilo residents have the fact that their K'alemi Dene School reached capacity for many years. Within just a few years of the new school opening, the growing need of the community began to exceed the K'alemi...

Question 608-20(1): Education Facilities Infrastructure in the Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned earlier that I mentioned that education is a treaty right, the GNWT are acting as the Crown so there's a need for a Crown consultation and accommodation with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation to look at for a new school in Dettah. Can the Minister commit to working with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation chief and council and the Dettah and N'dilo DEA to start a process to get on the ECE capital plan process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 599-20(1): K’alemi Dene School Infrastructure
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Years of denying or deferring the upgrades to learning and recreation facilities, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation students need their education and without proper facilities, it violates their treaty rights for education. Yesterday, the infrastructure Minister had not heard about these concerns from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, but previous MLAs have brought this up as far back as 2018.

My question is the education Minister clearly stated that the department were aware of these concerns every time they put together the capital plan. Will the Minister work --...

Question 599-20(1): K’alemi Dene School Infrastructure
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you for that, Mr. Speaker. It was very enlightening.

Yesterday, due to the ECE Minister's absence, the infrastructure Minister heard my concerns, instead spoke about whether a planning study to replace the Kaw Tay Whee School and gymnasium, which was supposed to take place in 2019, had occurred. She needed time to find the answer to that question. Is the ECE Minister aware now if that study went through? If so, is she ready to act on its recommendations and get a new school for Dettah? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize two pages from the Deninu Kue School in Fort Resolution, Colleen Edjericon and Mandy Miersch-King. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 608-20(1): Education Facilities Infrastructure in the Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is when can the Minister of ECE start the process on Crown consultation and accommodation with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation; is it possible to do that this fiscal year? Thank you.

Question 608-20(1): Education Facilities Infrastructure in the Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to go back to the Minister of ECE.

As mentioned, the school in Dettah is 55 years old. The GNWT brought in portable trailers in 1979 with no gymnasium. The GNWT built an undersized gymnasium back in 1978 in Dettah as well as -- and used as a community hall, and the students in the school use that gym for recreation activities.

My question to the Minister, can the Minister confirm if ECE consulted with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and local DEA going back to 1979 to build a new school in Dettah and N'dilo? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 599-20(1): K’alemi Dene School Infrastructure
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding the addition of the new school and gymnasium to K'alemi Dene School in 2021, an assessment for the project was considered but not selected. Can the Minister commit to commitment to getting a new -- five new classroom and a gymnasium and a community hall for the K'alemi Dene School addition onto this year's capital plan if possible? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 48-20(1): Reappointment of Chief Electoral Officer, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Question 589-20(1): Condition of Dettah Elementary School
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I just want to emphasize that education is a treaty right, and it's also in the -- recognized in the UNDRIP document. So having said that, I guess looking forward to work with the department to work with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and also the DEA in Dettah so that we are able to finally get a new school in Dettah and with a full-sized gymnasium. And my question to the Minister is that when can we start working together with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the local DEA on this issue? Thank you.