Ethel Blondin-Andrew facts for kids

Ethel Dorothy Blondin-Andrew is a Canadian politician, teacher, and public servant. She was born on March 25, 1951. She made history in 1988 by becoming the first Indigenous woman elected to the Parliament of Canada. This means she became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Western Arctic area. She was also the first Indigenous woman to become a Canadian Cabinet Minister, which is a very important role in the government.

Early Life and Education

Ethel Blondin-Andrew was born in Tulita, Northwest Territories. She is a Dene woman, which is one of the many Indigenous groups in Canada.

When she was young, she attended a residential school in Inuvik. These schools were often difficult places for Indigenous children. Later, she faced a health challenge when she became ill with tuberculosis. After she recovered, she moved to Délı̨nę with her parents.

She went on to study at the University of Alberta. In 1974, she earned a degree in education, focusing on languages and reading skills. In 1984, she started working for the Canadian Public Service. She became the National Manager for a program that helped Indigenous people develop their skills. Two years later, she was promoted to executive director.

Political Career

In 1986, Ethel Blondin-Andrew became an Assistant Deputy Minister of Culture for the Northwest Territories. In this role, she worked with groups like the Assembly of First Nations to support Indigenous languages.

She decided to run for a seat in the Parliament of Canada in the 1988 federal election. She won and became the Member of Parliament for Western Arctic. As an MP, she worked on issues like fairness in employment and Indigenous affairs. She also led different committees in Parliament. She even gave her first speech in the House of Commons in the Dene language, which was a significant moment.

After the 1993 federal election, her party, the Liberal Party, won the most seats. When Jean Chrétien became Prime Minister, Ethel Blondin-Andrew was appointed Secretary of State for Training and Youth in 1993. In this role, she helped create important programs like Youth Service Canada to help young people. In 1997, she became Secretary of State for Children and Youth.

When Paul Martin became Prime Minister in 2003, he appointed her as Minister of State (Children and Youth). She held this position until 2004. Then, she became Minister of State (Northern Development). She was re-elected in the 2004 federal election by a very small number of votes. She served in Parliament for 17 years before being voted out of office in the 2006 federal election.

Her work for Indigenous communities has been recognized with several awards. In 2001, Brock University gave her an honorary doctorate. In 2012, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. She also received the 2019 Maclean's Lifetime Achievement Award for former Members of Parliament.

Later Career

From 2009 to 2018, Ethel Blondin-Andrew was the Chair of Sahtu Secretarial Incorporated. She now works with the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, continuing her efforts to support Indigenous communities.

Personal Life

Ethel Blondin-Andrew lives in Norman Wells. She is married to Leon Andrew. They have four children and four grandchildren.

See also

• Notable Aboriginal people of Canada