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

Committee Motion 30-20(1): Deferral Motion – Tabled Document 111-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2024-2025
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. I was looking at the agriculture -- Canadian Agriculture Partnership. You had $1,051,000 in 2022-2023, and then you had nothing after that. Then it looks like you went into the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership. Okay, so do we have a huge agriculture sector in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you. I have a little bit more of a different question then. My next question is what constitutes harvesters? Like, what do they have to be harvesting to be considered a harvester? Thank you.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ECC. Can the Minister tell me what supports are available to cabin owners as they clean up the charred and damaged properties that once were their cabins? Thank you.

Committee Motion 27-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Legislative Assembly, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my question is about the fire damage compensation grants are available to hunters and trappers to replace equipment lost as a result of a wildfire -- forest fires. What is considered equipment? Thank you.

Members’ Statement 262-20(1): Economic Development in Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I represent four small communities, and some of my communities are entirely Indigenous. The size of my communities range from 45 to 736 or 50 people. Mr. Speaker, we are small communities but so unique and so rich in culture and tradition.

Mr. Speaker, the communities in the Deh Cho region do not have a major economic driver. There are trees everywhere, and the forest industry is a natural sector to develop but the forest industry has not yet become a regional economic driver for my communities.

Mr. Speaker, we are on the road system. We have abundant natural...

Committee Motion 27-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Legislative Assembly, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

The reason I'm asking is I have people calling me and saying that they didn't get anything from -- they lost their cabin last year in the fire, in the wildfire, and they didn't get anything. So is there some way that maybe their application didn't get looked at or it didn't get in, or? I just need that information so I could bring it back to some of these. They were in the Hay River, Deh Cho region. Thank you.

Committee Motion 29-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Municipal and Community Affairs – Deferral of Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Mr. Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Committee Motion 27-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Legislative Assembly, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is about disaster compensation, 225. How many cabins that were lost in the wildfire of last year, does the Minister know how many of the cabins that were lost and compensated from last year? Thank you.

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, that's good to know. Thank you so much. I don't have any further questions.

Committee Motion 27-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Legislative Assembly, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The question I have is looking at the Mackenzie River Basin Board, and the Minister or the -- one of his witnesses did mention that this is the place where they work with the regions and the territories and the provinces. They also have traditional knowledge people that they work with with the board. And my colleague asked about whether or not they were doing any kind of work with the people. Given that we had such a low water level this year, is there any work that's going to be done with the elders, bringing the elders and scientists together to talk about what is going...