Richard Edjericon

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

Accountability and Oversight

Board of Management

Government Operations

Tu Nedhé - Wiilideh

Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box

1320

Email

Email

Phone

Extension

12185

Cell

Constituency Office

Email

Email

Phone

Statements in Debates

Debates of February 16, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 140)

Thank you. I only got three minutes and 42 seconds left so I think we'll have that discussion at another day. But I think it's a valid question that, you know, we need to be recognized and that monies that are going into the South Slave region or North Slave region, that it goes in for my riding goes into different regions and it's all over the place so that needs to be recognized.

Anyways, moving forward though, right now as it is as we and you mentioned in your speech today that there's we're going to be closing the mines in the next couple years. And we're going to be looking at new ways...

Debates of February 16, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 140)

Okay, thank you. Thank you for that and for clarifying that. I'm not sure when on one hand, you know, when I became the MLA, I represent the four communities of Tu NedheWiilideh, and I'm not sure when are we, the government, you're going to start looking to recognize that, because right now as it is the positions that are on these documents, or the monies that's going to the North or South Slave region, it's really I mean, how much money is it really coming into Dettah and N'dilo, to Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution? Thank you.

Debates of February 16, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 140)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I got a few questions. In regards to your on page 230 and then I go to page 232, in here it talks about South Slave region. As you know, I represent the Tu NedheWiilideh riding, which is four communities. In here, can you explain to me it says fulltime, and there's ten positions. Can you explain to me where are the positions? Thank you.

Debates of February 16, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 140)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess I had one more a couple quick questions here if I could. In Hay River they have the Aurora Wood Pellets, and they have an arrangement with I guess that company in that's going to made up to look at building wood pellets, etcetera. Would you have any more information on that so you could share with us on that, or is that going to be in Minister Thompson's portfolio? Thank you.

Debates of February 16, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 140)

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So it's just a matter of time I guess, that the department's going to have to start catching up and starting to recognize that Tu NedheWiilideh riding is a separate riding on its own. It's got four communities but yet we're rolled into the South Slave region and the positions that are there are not identified. So then when you say that there's money going to be going to South Slave region, really it's only going to include Hay River and Fort Smith but nothing for Tu Nedhe, which is N'dilo, Dettah, Fort Res and Lutselk'e. But that's okay, I'm hoping that the...

Debates of February 16, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 140)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know this year my colleague Jane, MLA from the Tlicho region talked about the way the Tlicho is mixed into the North Slave. I also too want to raise that as an issue because you just clarified to me that, you know, you don't have that information right now but it's only Hay River and Fort Smith. But then so when you say that, this information is kind of skewed in a way that it rolls in Fort Resolution, Lutselk'e and N'dilo and Dettah. So where does N'dilo and Dettah fall in? Does that fall into the North sorry, South Slave? Or sorry, North Slave? Thank you, Mr...

Debates of February 15, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Mr. Chairman, I've already asked some questions, but I got two more questions. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to mention that? Okay, can I ask my two questions? Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'm just trying to figure out how we could continue to build new relationships with Indigenous governments here in the Northwest Territories. And I'm just trying to figure a way, because last year I sent a letter to the Minister of the Housing Corporation going back to June 10th, 2022, and regarding Housing NWT repairs or homeownership replacement for Tu NedheWiilideh riding. And based on my tour...

Debates of February 15, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Okay. So would you be able to provide us the House in regards to the breakdown of that so that I could see it in front of me so that I understand where the money went to, because whenever we make commitments, I mean we got to make sure we're on top of that and I just want to make sure that I understand where the money's gone to. So will the Minister commit to that? Thank you.

Debates of February 15, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

That's correct. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Debates of February 15, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 139)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In this budget this year, CMHC has you guys have a $20 million budget there to get from CMHC too for your operation and maintenance. What's going to happen here now in 2036? It's going to come to an end so how is Housing NWT going to start dealing with public housing after 2036? What is your plan? Thank you.