Vince Steen facts for kids

Vince Steen (born June 17, 1941, in Aklavik, Northwest Territories – died February 3, 2007) was an important politician in Canada's North. He served as a local councilor and later became the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk. He also became a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, which is like a parliament for the territory. Before his political career, he worked as a government employee, a heavy equipment operator, and a licensed boat operator.

Growing Up in the North

Steen was born in 1941 in Aklavik, a community in the Mackenzie Delta area of the Northwest Territories. He spent his entire life living in northern Canada. For seven years, Steen went to a local residential school in Aklavik. Later, he continued his education at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. At this school, he earned a special certificate that allowed him to work as a skilled heavy equipment operator.

Local Government and Community Work

Vince Steen started his political journey by working on local community groups, or "boards," during the 1970s and 1980s. These boards helped make decisions for the community.

• In 1973, he joined the Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee. He served as a member and later as the chairman of this group until 1989.
• In 1974, he was the chairman of the NWT Game Council, which helps manage wildlife.

In 1975, Steen was chosen to be part of the Federal Fisheries and Oceans Advisory Committee on Whales and Whaling. He worked with this committee until 1977. From 1976 to 1978, he was the Vice President of the Inuit Taparitsat of Canada, an organization that represents Inuit people. A big moment in his local political career was when he was elected mayor of Tuktoyaktuk in 1980, serving for one year. Four years later, he became a board member for the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation. His last role on a board was as Chief of the Inuvialuit Land Administration Committee, from 1986 to 1989.

Working for the Government

Steen had a long career working as a "civil servant," which means he worked for the government at both local and territorial levels.

• He started working for the Tuktoyaktuk local government in 1977.
• He served as a Justice of the Peace, helping with legal matters, and as a coroner, investigating deaths, for the community until 1990.

In 1987, Steen was promoted to Senior Administration Officer for the communities of Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk. He held this important job until 1991, when he was hired by the Government of the Northwest Territories. The territorial government made him the Highway Maintenance Supervisor for Tuktoyaktuk and Wrigley. He worked in this role, making sure roads were kept in good condition, until he was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1995.

Serving in the Legislative Assembly

Vince Steen was elected to the Northwest Territories Legislature in the 1995 Northwest Territories general election. This meant he became a representative for his region, helping to make laws and decisions for the entire territory. He was re-elected for a second term in the 1999 Northwest Territories general election.

At the start of his second term, the Premier, Stephen Kakfwi, chose him to be part of the "cabinet." The cabinet is a group of top government officials who lead different departments. Steen was given two important jobs: Minister of Public Works and Services, and Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. As a minister, Steen worked hard to improve drinking water safety and sewage treatment across the territory. He also pushed for government money to help local communities learn how to govern themselves better.

Steen ran for a third term in the 2003 Northwest Territories general election. However, he was defeated by Calvin Pokiak in a close election. He lost by only 27 votes.

Later Life and Passing

After leaving the territorial assembly, Vince Steen was diagnosed with bone cancer in May 2006. He received treatment at three different medical centers in the Northwest Territories: the Rosie Ovayuak Health Centre in Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik Regional Hospital, and Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. Sadly, he passed away from the illness eight months later, on February 3, 2007.