Sheryl Yakeleya

Member Dehcho

Mrs. Yakeleya was elected to the 20th NWT Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Dehcho.

Mrs. Sheryl Brenda Yakeleya was born and raised in Fort Providence. NT.  During her younger life, she lived on the land with her parents. Mrs. Yakeleya has also resided in Fort Simpson, Yellowknife, Norman Wells, and Tulita, NWT. She holds a Business Administration diploma and Office Administration certifcate from Aurora College, as well as a Training of Trainers certificate from the Nechi Institute. 

For many years Mrs. Yakeleya has dedicated herself to serving community, by talking to people and working for them. She served as a Board Member for the Native Women’s Association and has volunteered with a variety of community social events. It was this active involvement that inspired the people of her community to encourage her to serve residents at the highest level as an elected politician.

Prior to being elected Mrs. Yakeleya worked in the Indigenous Community Wellness Division in Yellowknife, a Contracts Administrator for the Norman Wells Housing Corporation and most recently as a Family Mentor Worker with the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre, and Caretaker for the Seniors Home in Fort Providence. She also was employed as a Community Program Coordinator promoting community wellness and justice.

In her spare time, Mrs. Yakeleya loves to read, sew moose hair tufting, sing, clean, and organize.

Mrs. Yakeleya is married to Mr. Norman Yakeleya, former MLA for the Sahtu in the 15th, 16th, and 17th Assemblies, as well as former Dene National Chief. Together they have 6 children, 3 sons and 3 daughters, and 3 granddaughters.

Dehcho Electoral District:

Committees

Accountability and Oversight
Social Development
Public Accounts
Sheryl Yakeleya
Dehcho
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

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

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for the Sahtu.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Member’s Statement 341-20(1): Gratitude to Constituents and Family
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take the opportunity to extend thanks and express gratitude. As we have reconvened for another sitting, I would like to thank my constituents. Without their faith in me, I wouldn't have the privilege of being here in this Chamber today. As I've stated before, I am honoured and humbled to be here to serve all my constituents and all my riding of the Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank family and friends from all over the NWT for their support, calls, and reaching out with when my daughter was hospitalized in Kelowna this past summer...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too -- I lived in Norman Wells a few years ago, and people probably know that I lived in Norman Wells, and even back then the cost of living was high. So I cannot imagine what it's like today. And to know that right now that Norman Wells has run out of fuel, that's a crisis, that's an emergency situation. And there's no time to play around with people's lives today right now, to try to figure out -- wiggle around and figure out whether or not this company's doing that, that company's doing this. There's no time to figure that out. If this was your family, what would...

Oral Question 308-20(1): Fire Towers
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing the local employment opportunities for the hamlet of Enterprise, can the Minister confirm the number of people the Enterprise fire tower employs throughout the year.

Member’s Statement 329-20(1): Fire Towers
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about fire towers and job opportunities for the residents of the Deh Cho.

Fire towers are used to monitor wildfires. Government employees used to operate them seasonally, typically from May to October. We used to pay a person to stay up there and keep communities safe. The fire tower near Enterprise was completed in 2015, and it's still in active use. What I would like to know, Mr. Speaker, is how is the tower currently staffed and can the government look to create more jobs with this kind of work? As I have said in the House in...

Oral Question 308-20(1): Fire Towers
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you. Thanks to the Minister for that answer. Can the Minister commit to creating local fire tower jobs for the upcoming wildfire season? That's we're talking about next year. Thank you.

Oral Question 308-20(1): Fire Towers
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too want to stay focused on the four priorities that we have going for us in this government.

Can the Minister of Environment and Climate Change confirm how many fire towers are currently in use in the NWT and explain how they are operated? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 27)

Thank you. I too, like my colleagues, would like to welcome Mr. Jackson Lafferty, grand chief, former MLA for Monfwi. And also to my friend Lousia Mackenzie and her family up there, welcome. And I too would also like to say thank you to you, Mr. Speaker, and all the wonderful staff here as well as the translators and everyone here, and I hope everybody has a good summer. Look forward to seeing everybody in the fall. Thank you.

Motion 38-20(1): Consideration for the Hamlet of Enterprise to Receive Top-Up Funding, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank my colleagues for supporting me with this motion. I do this in the spirit of helping the people in my riding at Enterprise. With that, I would like to, again, thanks everybody that's supporting it and also ask for a recorded vote. Thank you.