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Jane Weyallon Armstrong will become Monfwi’s next MLA, representing the four T???ch? communities of Behchok??, Whatì, Wekweètì and Gamètì of the NWT legislature.
Weyallon Armstrong was the first woman to ride Monfwi. Her victory marked a historic change-the NWT Legislative Assembly now has a majority of female members.
The region already has the highest percentage of female lawmakers in Canada, with 9 out of 19 seats won by female candidates October 2019.
Melanee Thomas, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary, said that the Northwest Territories is now the first provincial or territorial legislature led by a majority of women.
“It’s huge,” Thomas said. “I know people are a little tired of seeing everything as important for the first time, but we do need to mark the first time something like this happens so we know how long it will take.”
Thomas said it is worth noting that the legislature led by the majority of women first took place in a territory operating under a consensus government, where there were no political parties. Thomas said that this structure may have a depressive effect, and that change largely depends on party leaders coming and going.
“Progress is sporadic at best,” Thomas said.
The large number of women in NWT territorial politics is a recent phenomenon.
A sort of Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly 2018 Report It was found that the region ranks last in Canada in terms of female representatives, with only 10.5% of elected representatives being women, or 2 women’s priorities.
However, according to the same report, in 1991, Nellie Cournoyea became the second woman in Canada and the first Aboriginal woman to hold the post of prime minister.
Weyallon Armstrong is one of several women who have recently held political positions in the T???ch? region-including Doreen Arrowmaker, who was elected as the new CEO of Gamètì, and Adeline Football, who became the new CEO of Wekweètì.
In the live video posted to Facebook, Behchok??’s supporters lined up to congratulate and hug Weyallon Armstrong after learning of their victory. They held inspiring celebrations in the community.
Elections NWT web page display Unofficial result As of Wednesday morning:
- Jane Weyallon-503 votes.
- Kelvin Kotchilea-252 votes.
- John Gon-98 votes.
- James Wah-Shee-71 votes.
Weyallon Armstrong is the president of the NWT Indigenous Women’s Association and a member of the government of the Behchok?? community where she lives.
She used to work as a student support and guidance staff in T???ch? community service agency. She is also an advocate for improving housing conditions in her area.
She will be formally sworn in at the Legislative Assembly at 3 pm on August 5.
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