Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Member Monfwi

Jane Weyallon Armstrong was elected to the 20th Assembly to represent the constituency of Monfwi. Ms. Armstrong was elected to the 19th Assembly during a by-election to represent the constituency of Monfwi.

Ms. Weyallon Armstrong was born in Fort Rae, Northwest Territories. Currently residing in Behchoko, Northwest Territories, her impactful journey has left a lasting mark on her community.

Having served as President of the Native Women’s Association from 2019 to 2021, Ms. Weyallon Armstrong collaborated with board members on the National Inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls final report. Her commitment to the cause has been a driving force in addressing crucial issues.

Ms. Weyallon Armstrong’s extensive involvement in community governance includes roles such as a Community Government of Behchoko Councillor (2009–2013, 2017–2021, June 2021 to July 2021) and Tlicho Government Assembly Member (Consensus Government) from 2009 to 2013. Additionally, she contributed by being on the Mackenzie Valley Impact Review Board from 2020 to 2021.

With a career spanning over 25 years at the Dogrib Divisional Board of Education (now Tlicho Community Services Agency), Ms. Weyallon Armstrong’s impact reached the lives of high school students from various communities. Her roles as Residence Manager and later as Coordinator, Community Liaison, and Student Transition Support Services showcased her dedication to education and community development.

Ms. Weyallon Armstrong’s educational journey includes graduating from Sir John Franklin Territorial High School in Yellowknife, where she resided at Akaitcho Hall. She earned a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Politics and a Minor in Native Studies from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1994, she obtained her Social Work Diploma from Aurora College, Thebacha Campus, and in 1992, she earned her Child and Youth Care Worker Diploma from Mount Royal College.

Ms. Weyallon Armstrong, in partnership with her spouse, have raised their daughter, and now revel in the role of proud grandparents to a grandson. Ms. Weyallon Armstrong possesses a range of interests that extend to sewing, reading, and engaging in various cultural activities. Her longstanding commitment to volunteering for fundraising events and field trips underscores her dedication to community well-being.

Monfwi Electoral District

Committees

Accountability and Oversight
Social Development
Government Operations
Jane Weyallon Armstrong
Monfwi
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

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

Statements in Debates

Member’s Statement 268-20(1): Indigenous Child Welfare Settlement
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about an issue that has been years in the making, and it's still happening now. So Mr. Speaker, the issue I am referring to is the final settlement agreement related to compensation for those harmed by discriminatory underfunding of First Nations child and family services.

On January 4th, 2022, the government announced that an agreement-in-principle in the sum of $20 billion in compensation for First Nations children would be provided to children who were removed from their homes between April 1st, 1991, and March 31st, 2022, as well as...

Committee Motion 28-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Environment and Climate Change – Deferral of Department of Environment and Climate Change, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

I would like to ask if all the contracts are paid up to date for the contract services?

Committee Motion 28-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Environment and Climate Change – Deferral of Department of Environment and Climate Change, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Okay. With that in mind, is there any new position created in Tlicho region?

Committee Motion 28-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Environment and Climate Change – Deferral of Department of Environment and Climate Change, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

I was going to ask, too, I know last year, last summer, we brought forward Bill 98, an amendment to the Emergency Management Act. So I just wanted to ask the Minister if there's any update, or are there plan to update the disaster assistance policy?

Question 268-20(1): Indigenous Child Welfare Settlement
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Mr. Speaker, if there's a will, there's a way, okay. So I know that they could do it. And Nunavut has a good president too, Nathan Denette -- sorry, I forgot his name but, you know, they can do it.

So, Mr. Speaker, will the Premier acknowledge that there were individuals within the NWT child welfare system between 1991 and 2022 who endured the pain, trauma, and hardship from the GNWT's child welfare system similar to what people endured under the federal system pertaining to this case.

So that's just more of a comment. So, Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to -- yes, I'm getting to it.

Mr...

Question 268-20(1): Indigenous Child Welfare Settlement
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know of someone in our communities who was in the child welfare system. Some parents and grandparents passed on without seeing the children. This is sad as many families long to see the children, maybe just to say I love you, hug them, or ask for forgiveness.

With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister in reference to my Member's statement, can the Premier explain in as much detail as possible why the NWT was excluded from the final settlement agreement related to the compensation for those harmed by discriminatory underfunding of First...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Bill 2, Missing Persons Act, was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development on February 26th, 2024. It was important to the committee that the bill be reviewed thoroughly but also with urgency as the committee has heard strong feedback that this legislation needed to be in place as soon as possible.

Throughout the committee's review, the committee consistently received feedback that reflected two sides to the issue of missing person cases:

On one hand, it was expressed to the committee that everything needs to happen as quickly as possible in a...

Question 257-20(1): Attendance Rates in Small Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to provide more departmental resources to and work with closely with district education authorities and divisional education councils across the NWT to help increase attendance rates in small communities? Thank you.

Question 257-20(1): Attendance Rates in Small Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Yes, thank you. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what efforts that I mean, I'm going to her answer's going to be the same thing, but what efforts the Department of ECE has done over the years to help increase and maintain attendance rates of schools particularly in small communities? Thank you.

Committee Motion 23-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Bill 2, Missing Persons Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on February 26, 2024, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.

Throughout the committee's review, the committee met with the Minister of Justice, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and over 55 members of the public in three public hearings held in Aklavik, Inuvik, and Yellowknife. The committee also received five written submissions on the bill.

On May 28, 2024, the standing committee held its clausebyclause review of the bill with the Minister...