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
Richard Edjericon
Tu Nedhé - Wiilideh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
867-767-9143
Extension
12185
Mobile
867-445-8298
Constituency Office
Email
Email
Phone
867-447-0439

Statements in Debates

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'd just like to welcome the Minister of ECE back as well. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker -- Mr. Speaker, yesterday --

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I talked about the Kaw Tay Whee School in Dettah. That school would be 55 years old now, and it's four trailers put together. Mr. Speaker, the children have to walk probably about 300 yards to go to the gymnasium. This school needs to be replaced. My question would be to the Minister of Infrastructure. There was a study that was done in 2018, 2019. Can the Minister of Infrastructure let us know what was the study about and who was all involved in the study? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.

WHEREAS the Elections and Plebiscites Act provides for the appointment of a chief electoral officer who has the responsibility to exercise general direction and supervision over the administrative conduct of an election and enforce, on the part of all election officers, fairness, impartiality and compliance with the Elections and Plebiscites Act;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that this Legislative Assembly, by virtue of Section 5 of the Elections and Plebiscites Act, recommends to the Commissioner the...

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

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 6th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, second by the honourable Member from Yellowknife South, that this Legislative Assembly, by virtue of Section 5 of the Elections and Plebiscite Act, recommends to the Commissioner, the appointment of Mr. Stephen Dunbar of Yellowknife as the chief electoral officer for the Northwest Territories for a fixed term commencing on a date to be communicated by the Speaker.

And, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank...

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess my question to the Minister is that now that the study is undertaken in 2018 and 2019, once she has this information, my question would be is can we look at a new way to look at this report and start working with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation chief and council and the local DEA to look at what the needs are for that community for fall 2025 capital plan process? Thank you.

Member’s Statement 559-20(1): Condition of Dettah Elementary School Building
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Mr. Speaker, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which passed through the previous Assembly, outlines the right for self-government participation and decision-making and free prior and informed consent for Indigenous people. Article 23 states that the Indigenous people have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising the right to develop; in particular, the right to be actively involved in developing and determining health, housing, and other economic and social programs. However, the Department of Infrastructure and ECE continues...

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.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.