Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 24, 2007

SAHTU - Norman Yakeleya isn't taking anything for granted. With a free ride back to the legislative assembly, he's taking time to tour the Sahtu to get direction for the next session.

"You still have to go out there and see what people have to say," said Yakeleya. "You have to thank people and see what they want."

From what Yakeleya has heard, social issues are of primary concern.

The five small communities in the Sahtu average 500 people each; with Norman Wells being the largest at 761 and Colville Lake the smallest at 126 residents.

One prominent elder from Deline, Andrew J. Kenny, says he's never seen an MLA work so closely with the communities in defending their concerns.

"He does a lot of things for the people, there's never been so much before," said Kenny. "He's doing good, I guess that's why there's no one against him."

With 199 elders in the Sahtu region, Yakeleya said they need help dealing with the bombardment of tax forms and new programs.

"There's no place for them to go," said Yakeleya. "They're bounced around, we're really not taking care of them in a good way."

With the old comes the young, and helping the youth is another of Yakeleya's top priorities.

"A lot of youth are lacking education, training. Using alcohol is going on quite regularly," said Yakeleya. "We have a lot of young kids and we're failing them, we sort of just let them go."

Arthur Tobac, president of the Yamoga Land Corp. in Fort Good Hope, agreed that social issues are being overshadowed with all the economic activity coming up in the community.

Since the Sahtu Dene Metis Land Claim Agreement in July 1993, $75 million has been flowing into the area over a 15-year period. In addition to that money, the region receives payments in resource revenue sharing.

"There's so much that's going on in our region, people are busy," said Tobac. "Economic and social issues have to be tackled, a lot of the social issues are being put on the sidebar for the economy."

From what Gordon Sutton, principal of Chief T'seleye school in Fort Good Hope has heard, Yakeleya's been doing a good job in addressing these concerns.

"When anything goes wrong, it's always, 'call Norman'," said Sutton. "He fits in with the group. Everyone thinks the world of him."

Yakeleya's reputation comes after serving just one term in office, as he was elected in 2003.

Prior to that, he worked as chief negotiator for self-government and for the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim.

Born in Yellowknife in 1959, Yakeleya moved to Tulita in 1964 where he lived most of his life, later serving as Chief of the Tulita Dene Band and Chairman of the Sahtu Tribal Council.

Yakeleya brings to politics experience in social work. He studied at the Nechi Institute in Edmonton and at Arctic College in Yellowknife.

Yakeleya balances work with three children from a previous marriage, two adopted children, and one child with his wife Cheryl Yakeleya.