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

Motion 17-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Tabled Document 27-20(1), Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Tabled Document 2720(1) is a petition signed by 1,077 people, including 396 residents of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS Tabled Document 2720(1) does not strictly conform with our rules to be submitted as a petition; and

THEREFORE I MOVE, second by the Member for Yellowknife North, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to Tabled Document 2720(1) and table it in this House within 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion to amend Motion 9-20(1): Establishing a Public Inquiry into the 2023 Wildfires – Draft Inquiry Establishment Order, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, second by the Member for Great Slave, to amend Motion 920(1), Establishing a Public Inquiry into the 2023 Wildfires as amended, by replacing the words "the inquiry establishment order" with "a draft inquiry establishment order" in the last clause of the motion such as it reads:

AND FURTHERMORE, that a draft inquiry establishment order be tabled on the first day of the May sitting of this House.

Thank You, Mr. Speaker.

Question 75-20(1): 2023 Enterprise Wildfire Management
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that fire lookout towers were widely used tool to combat wildfires in the past. Can the Minister tell us if fire lookout towers are still being used by ECC across the NWT, and are they still considered an effective tool to use against wildfires? Thank you.

Question 75-20(1): 2023 Enterprise Wildfire Management
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, and thank you to the Member for that the Minister. Mr. Speaker, I understand that this ECC Minister was not Minister on August 13th last year, but can the Minister explain if the department was aware of the level of risk that Enterprise was in that day when they were forced to evacuate the community? Thank you.

Member’s Statement 90-20(1): Impacts of 2023 Wildfires on Dehcho Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, my constituents are understandably feeling angry, hurt, and abandoned by our government as a result of the wildfires and its after math. I will have questions for the Minister of ECC later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 17-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Tabled Document 27-20(1), Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Recorded vote, please.

Motion to amend Motion 9-20(1): Establishing a Public Inquiry into the 2023 Wildfires – Safe Disclosure, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last summer was a smokey summer.

Mr. Speaker, I second this motion requesting a public inquiry into the wildfire because the people I represent want to know the truth. People in my riding fled from their communities with very little notice. Houses were consumed by fire and many people are still displaced to this day.

An elderly lady that I from my community was was medevaced out of the hospital from here, brought to Vancouver, and her escort was sent to Calgary, and the elderly lady passed away in Vancouver by herself without her family members. There was a young guy...

Question 71-20(1): Low Water Levels in the Mackenzie River
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 7)

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain if ECC is anticipating low water levels in this year for the Mackenzie River? Thank you.

Member’s Statement 81-20(1): Water levels and Climate Change
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is also partly what fueled the worst fire season ever had last summer. Our government needs to respond to this, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of ECC. Thank you.

Member’s Statement 81-20(1): Water levels and Climate Change
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 7)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Last year the Deh Cho and the Mackenzie River reached historical water levels across the NWT. There are many news stories about this, and many people shared their own photos online of receding shorelines up and down the Valley. These low water levels caused a lot of problems for many people, from harvesters unable to cross the river to go hunting to tugboats running aground and getting stuck, to barge deliveries cancelled and unable to deliver goods to Norman Wells and Tulita. These are just some of the issues low water levels have caused us in the last year.

In addition, Mr...