Lena Pedersen facts for kids

Lena (Elizabeth Magdalena) Pedersen (born in 1940) is an important politician and community worker from Nunavut, Canada. She was born in Greenland but moved to Canada's Northwest Territories in 1959.

Lena lived in several northern communities, including Coppermine (now Kugluktuk) and Cape Dorset. In Cape Dorset, she helped sell artwork for the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative, an organization that supports local artists.

A Pioneer in Politics

Lena Pedersen made history in Canadian politics. Her work helped shape the government of the Northwest Territories and later, Nunavut.

Breaking New Ground

In the 1970 general election, Lena Pedersen became the first woman ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. The Legislative Assembly is a group of people elected to make laws for the territory, similar to a parliament.

Before 1951, women in the Northwest Territories were not allowed to vote or run for office. Even after the law changed, it took nearly 20 years for a woman to be elected, and Lena was the one to achieve this milestone.

Serving Her Community

After her time in the legislature, Lena continued to work for the people of the North. In 1999, she was chosen to be part of the Maligarnit Qimirrujiit, which is Nunavut's Law Review Commission. This group studies the laws of Nunavut to make sure they are fair and work well for everyone.

She also served on the boards of important groups like the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, which represents Inuit people across the country. She helped run community wellness programs in Kugluktuk and worked with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to improve housing.

In 2003, she ran for office again in Yellowknife Centre but was not elected.

Legacy and Family

Lena Pedersen's hard work and dedication have left a lasting impact. In her honor, a building in Yellowknife was named the Lena Pederson Boarding Home. It provided a place for patients from the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut to stay while they were in the city for medical care.

Her family has also been involved in politics. She was once married to Red Pedersen, another politician. Their grandson, Calvin Pedersen, was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut in 2020, following in his grandmother's footsteps.

A Famous Quote

Lena Pedersen once spoke about the government of the Northwest Territories moving its main offices north in 1967. The goal was to be closer to the people it served. However, she felt that just being physically closer wasn't enough.

She said the government "has achieved only to get closer in miles to some communities. It is still as far as or further removed from the people as it every [sic] was."

This meant she believed the government still didn't fully understand the needs and lives of the people in the remote communities, even if its offices were in the same region.