Nellie Cournoyea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nellie Cournoyea
|
|
|---|---|
Nellie Cournoyea in Inuvik, 2006
|
|
| 6th Premier of the Northwest Territories | |
| In office November 14, 1991 – November 22, 1995 |
|
| Commissioner | Daniel L. Norris Helen Maksagak |
| Preceded by | Dennis Patterson |
| Succeeded by | Don Morin |
| MLA for Western Arctic | |
| In office October 1, 1979 – November 21, 1983 |
|
| Preceded by | John Steen |
| Succeeded by | riding dissolved |
| MLA for Nunakput | |
| In office November 21, 1983 – October 16, 1995 |
|
| Preceded by | new district |
| Succeeded by | Vince Steen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 4, 1940 Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada |
| Political party | non-partisan consensus government |
| Signature |  |
Nellie Cournoyea is a very important Canadian politician. She was born on March 4, 1940, in Aklavik, Northwest Territories. Nellie Cournoyea served as the sixth premier of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995.
She made history in Canada. She was the first female premier of a Canadian territory. She was also the first Indigenous female premier of any Canadian province or territory. Nellie Cournoyea is Inuvialuit, an Indigenous group from the Arctic. She was only the second female premier in all of Canadian history.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Nellie Cournoyea has a mixed background. Her family is part Norwegian and part Iñupiat. The Iñupiat are another Indigenous group from the Arctic.
Before she became a politician, Nellie Cournoyea worked in media. She was an announcer and station manager for CBC North in Inuvik. This is a big broadcasting company in Canada.
She also worked to help Indigenous people with their land claims. This means helping them get back their traditional lands. She worked for the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which is a national organization for Inuit people.
Becoming a Political Leader
Nellie Cournoyea was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1979. This is like the parliament for the Northwest Territories. She represented the area called Western Arctic.
Later, she represented a new area called Nunakput. She held many different jobs in the government. These jobs are called "cabinet positions."
On November 14, 1991, she was chosen as the Premier. In the Northwest Territories, the Premier is chosen by the elected members. This system is called consensus government. Nellie Cournoyea was Premier until 1995. After that, she decided not to run for election again.
After Her Time as Premier
After leaving politics, Nellie Cournoyea continued to be a leader. From 1996 to 2016, she was the chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. This organization helps manage land and resources for the Inuvialuit people.
Awards and Recognition
Nellie Cournoyea has received many honors for her work. In 1994, she won a National Aboriginal Achievement Award. This award celebrates the achievements of Indigenous people.
She has also received special degrees from universities. These are called honorary doctorates in law. She received them from Lakehead University, Carleton University, and the University of Toronto.
In 2008, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian can receive. She was also added to the Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame. In 2016, she received the Order of the Northwest Territories.
Her Early Education
As a child, Nellie Cournoyea went to an aboriginal residential school. These schools were often difficult for Indigenous children. A report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission shared a story about her. It said that she ran away from an Anglican hostel in the Northwest Territories after a problem with a teacher. Along her journey, Indigenous families helped and sheltered her.
Honored on Postage Stamps
In 2023, Canada Post announced a special honor for Nellie Cournoyea. She was one of three Indigenous pioneers chosen to be featured on new postage stamps. This shows how important her contributions are to Canada.
See also
External links
- Life and times of Nellie Cournoyea CBC.
- The Inuvialuit Land Claim NWT Historical Timeline
