NNSL (Mar 29/99) - The Northwest Territories has a new commissioner.

Late Friday Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Jane Stewart announced the appointment of Daniel Joseph Marion as the 13th Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

Marion worked with the Hudson's Bay Company for 24 years in Northern Ontario, Fort Norman and Rae-Edzo, where he still makes his home.

He has also served as general manager of the Rae-Edzo Development company and later as the executive director, and since 1993, has served as president.

MP for the Western Arctic Ethel Blondin-Andrew welcomed Marion's experience.

"Mr. Marion's community experience, community service record and his love of the North are great assets he brings to his work," Blondin-Andrew said in a statement. "His dogged determination will serve the government of the Northwest Territories and the people of the Northwest Territories well as our new commissioner."

At the same time, Helen Mamayaok Maksagak was appointed as the first Commissioner of Nunavut, Friday by a federal order in Council.

Maksagak has served the Northwest territories as Commissioner since 1994 and with the new appointment, becomes the first Commissioner of Nunavut.

The mother of six has been an employee of the RCMP, worked on many social programs, served on the NWT Roundtable for the Environment, and was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the NWT in 1992.

Maksagak was the first woman and the first Inuk to serve as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

The appointment was announced Friday by Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Jane Stewart.

In a statement from DIAND, Stewart welcomed the new Commissioner.

"Mrs. Maksagak has already played an historic role as the first woman and the first Inuk to serve as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, so it is fitting that she continues her ground-breaking work as the first Commissioner of Nunavut," Stewart said. "I welcome her to her new office and look forward to joining her to help serve the people of Nunavut."