James Wah-Shee facts for kids

James Wah-Shee (born in 1945 as James Washie) is a respected elder from the Tłı̨chǫ people and a former politician from the Northwest Territories, Canada. He served as a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislature, which is like a parliament for the territory, from 1979 to 1987.

Early Life and Leadership

James Wah-Shee was born in 1945. In 1971, he became the fourth President of the Indian Brotherhood of the Northwest Territories. This group was formed in 1969 to represent the interests of Indigenous people in the region. It later became known as the Dene Nation.

Political Career

First Election and Challenges

In 1975, James Wah-Shee decided to run for a seat in the Northwest Territories Legislature. This decision caused some discussion at the time because many Dene chiefs wanted people to boycott, or not participate in, the territorial elections. Because he chose to run, he stepped down as President of the Indian Brotherhood. George Erasmus took over as President. Even with the boycott, Wah-Shee was elected to represent the Great Slave area.

Focus on Dene Issues

After being elected, Wah-Shee and another Member, George Barnaby, resigned from their positions. They did this to show that they felt the Legislature was not paying enough attention to the important issues facing the Dene people. The government listened to their concerns and created a new department, the Department of Natural and Cultural Affairs, to focus on Indigenous matters. After this, Wah-Shee was re-elected in a special election, and the boycott was lifted.

Later Terms in Office

James Wah-Shee ran for re-election in 1979 and won a seat in a new area called Rae-Lac La Martre. He was elected for his final term in 1983. He did not return to the Legislature when it ended in 1987.

In 1999, Wah-Shee tried to win a seat again but was not successful. He was defeated by Leon Lafferty in a close election with many candidates.

Legacy

James Wah-Shee is also known for his artistic contribution. He designed the flag for the Tłı̨chǫ Government, which represents the Tłı̨chǫ people and their self-governance.