Richard Nerysoo facts for kids

Richard Nerysoo was born in 1953 near the Peel River in the Northwest Territories, Canada. He is a well-known politician and leader from the Northwest Territories. He served as a member of the territory's government from 1979 to 1995. During this time, he held important roles like the third Premier of the Northwest Territories and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Richard Nerysoo's Political Journey

Richard Nerysoo had a long and impactful career as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Northwest Territories. An MLA is like a representative who helps make laws and decisions for the people in their area.

Becoming an MLA and Premier

Nerysoo was first elected in the 1979 Northwest Territories general election. He represented the Mackenzie Delta area. At that time, he was the youngest MLA ever in the history of the Northwest Territories.

He was re-elected in the 1983 Northwest Territories general election. After this election, the Legislative Assembly chose him to be the third Premier of the Northwest Territories. The Premier is the leader of the government in the territory. This was a very important moment because Richard Nerysoo became:

• The first Indigenous person in Canada to serve as a Premier.
• The youngest Premier in Canadian history.
• The first Premier of the Northwest Territories who was born there.

He was elected again in the 1987 Northwest Territories general election, continuing his work as a leader.

Serving as Speaker of the Assembly

Richard Nerysoo made history again on October 19, 1989. He was chosen as the first Indigenous Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker is like a referee in the assembly, making sure meetings run smoothly and everyone follows the rules. He served in this role until November 13, 1991.

He was re-elected for a fourth time in the 1991 Northwest Territories general election. However, in the 1995 Northwest Territories general election, he was not re-elected. David Krutko won the election in his place.

Community Leadership and Advocacy

After his time in the Legislative Assembly, Richard Nerysoo continued to be a strong leader in his community.

Leading the Gwich'in People

In 1996, Nerysoo was elected as the President of the Gwich'in Tribal Council. This council works to protect the rights and interests of the Gwich'in people. He served in this role until 2000.

He also helped start the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. This group works to ensure Indigenous communities benefit from energy projects. Nerysoo was also a founding member of Gwich'in Council International. This organization represents the Gwich'in people from Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories on the Arctic Council. The Arctic Council is a group that discusses issues affecting the Arctic region.

Local and Regional Roles

In 2003, Nerysoo was elected as the Chief of the Inuvik Native Band and the President of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council. He held these positions until 2008. During this time, he was also chosen as the Chief Negotiator for agreements related to the Mackenzie Gas Project. This project involved developing natural gas resources in the region.

He was elected President of the Gwich'in Tribal Council again from 2008 to 2012. During this second term, he also served as the Chair and President of the Gwich'in Development Corporation, which helps with economic development for the Gwich'in people.

Nerysoo was also part of a group called the Working Group on Natural Resources Development. He represented the Assembly of First Nations in this group. He also co-chaired the Chiefs Committee on Economic Development, focusing on ways to improve the economy for Indigenous communities.

He also served as the Chief Negotiator for the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun on their rights and interests across different territories.