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

Question 245-20(1): Housing as a Human Right
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have question 3, but I have some things that added underneath there. So can the Minister commit to providing more outcome based measures in NWT  in the Housing NWT annual report  commit to measuring and reporting on the number of houses in core need by community and the number of homes brought out of core need annually. Thank you.

Question 245-20(1): Housing as a Human Right
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of housing. Can the Minister describe her position on acknowledging housing as a human right in the NWT. Thank you.

Question 245-20(1): Housing as a Human Right
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Just more of a comment, Mr. Speaker. I just want to thank the Minister for that, and I look forward to that information. Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER:

Question 246-20(1):

MR. TESTART:

MR. SPEAKER:

HON. R.J. SIMPSON:

Question 245-20(1): Housing as a Human Right
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. Second question is can the Minister describe discussions that have occurred at the NWT Housing Forum to acknowledge housing as a human right. Thank you.

Member’s Statement 242-20(1): Housing as a Human Right
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last sitting I moved a motion for the Government of the Northwest Territories to recognize housing as a human right. Mr. Speaker, I believe that housing is a human right because without housing, there's no foundation. Without a place to call home, there's no structure, no stability. How can we expect people to go to school, participate in the workforce, or raise their families, to live freely, if they are inadequately housed?

Mr. Speaker, acknowledging housing as a human right implies that the government has to implement policies and programs to...

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, I spoke of well, talking about medical travel. I looked at the and it looks like there's a significant drop in the main estimates from 20222023 to 20242025. That's a huge number that it dropped. And I brought up a constituent concern last week about that individual that was in Edmonton, could not be brought back to the North because an incident happened in Edmonton. And this individual had paid taxes all his life in the North. He needed assistance to come home. And I mentioned that his health was taking a toll for the worst. Well, I regret to inform this...

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

Thank you. Is there support to assist communities to develop a communitybased treatment program? Thank you.

Question 234-20(1): Residency Requirements for Income Assistance
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to looking at whether people that are on income assistance but living outside of the boundary, the community boundary, but living the region, are they still eligible for income assistance? And can they go to a client navigator and still get that information and be able to get the assistance from the income assistance worker? Thank you.

Question 234-20(1): Residency Requirements for Income Assistance
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you. And thank you to the Minister for that. Mr. Speaker, hypothetically, if an individual is living on the land or living off the grid or in a tent outside the municipal boundary of an NWT community, would such an individual be eligible to receive income assistance? Thank you.

Committee Report 2-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Community members raised questions about retrieving records from social media companies throughout a missing persons investigation. Concerns were voiced on accessing records through social media companies that are based in different countries such as in the U.S., and whether that would pose difficulties or if there are policies against accessing accounts or records.

Committee sought information on accessing records through social media, and it was confirmed that information being requested would depend on the social media company, their location, and the extent to which...