Johnny Abel facts for kids

Johnny W. Abel (born January 1, 1947 – died October 13, 1995) was an important Canadian politician. He represented the area of Vuntut Gwitchin in the Yukon Legislative Assembly from 1992 until he passed away in 1995. He was a member of the Yukon Party.

Before becoming a politician, Johnny Abel was a leader for his community. He served as the chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation from 1978 to 1984. He sadly passed away in a canoeing accident in 1995.

Who Was Johnny Abel?

Johnny W. Abel was born on January 1, 1947, in a place called Old Crow, in the Yukon territory of Canada. He grew up to become a respected leader and politician.

A Leader for His People

Johnny Abel was a member of the Gwich'in people. The Gwich'in are one of the many First Nations groups in Canada. First Nations are the original people who lived in Canada.

From 1978 to 1984, Johnny Abel was the chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. A chief is like the main leader or mayor for a First Nation community. In this role, he worked to help his community and make important decisions for them.

Serving in Government

Later, Johnny Abel decided to serve his wider community in the Yukon government. He became a politician, which means he was elected by people to represent them and make laws.

In 1992, he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Vuntut Gwitchin area. The Yukon Legislative Assembly is where elected officials meet to discuss and create laws for the Yukon territory.

Johnny Abel was part of the Yukon Party. This is one of the main political groups in the Yukon. He worked hard to represent the people of Vuntut Gwitchin until his death in 1995.

His Legacy

Johnny Abel's life and work inspired others. The film Arctic Son was created after a meeting between filmmaker Andrew Walton and Johnny Abel. This shows how his story and experiences touched people.