SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The name Sir Frederick Haultain has been lost in the mists of history – that's according to amateur historian Jeffery Corradetti, who is trying to get the name back in the popular consciousness.

Jeffery Corradetti wants the NWT's first Premier, Sir Frederick Haultain, remembered and commemorated in the territories. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

"Frederick Haultain was the NWT's first premier, and we don't know anything about him," said Corradetti.

As a result, Corradetti has started the Frederick Haultain Foundation, a project still in its infancy.

When the foundation is operational he hopes to fund raise for a portrait of Haultain – to be gifted to the territories – plaques commemorating the locations where the GNWT met before the legislative assembly was built, and a university scholarship for students from the NWT to study political science.

Corradetti – an administrative assistant at the Salvation Army – is concerned there is a lack of recognition for the period that Alberta and Saskatchewan were part of the NWT.

"Even the government here doesn't recognize the full history of the NWT. It basically cuts it off at 1905. That's not correct; it's still the NWT, the only thing that changed in 1905 was the territorial boundaries," he said.

"Just because we separated from Nunavut in 1999 doesn't mean we're a whole new territory again."

Deputy Premier Michael Miltenberger admitted he did not know who Frederick Haultain was, but said he was not opposed to recognizing his contribution.

"We want to celebrate our history," said Miltenberger. "If the gentleman wants to pursue that, then we'd be happy to consider it."

Haultain was appointed as the first premier of the NWT in 1897, when responsible government was granted to the territories, which had been under the direct control of Ottawa. In 1905, Alberta and Saskatchewan split from the NWT and Haultain continued his political career in Saskatchewan, while George Braden took over the role of premier.

After moving to Yellowknife from Hamilton, Ont. three years ago, Corradetti became interested in exploring a parliamentary system of government in the NWT as an alternative to the current consensus system. When researching the political systems of the territories, he came across some "big gaping holes" in its history. He put the NWT Party System Exploratory Committee on hold, saying it was more important to promote sound historical knowledge in the territories.

"When I called to do research on the subject, it was pretty alarming to see that absolutely no one – from the premier's office, to the speakers, or the commissioner – knew who he was," Corradetti said.

The historian said Haultain was an effective leader, and achieved a great deal for the NWT. He is concerned the territory's progress will stagnate if the lessons of the past are not acknowledged.

"If we don't look at our past, we're going to keep going back to the oven and getting our hands burnt," he said. Corradetti encourages anyone interested in the topic to get in touch with him at corradetti_1@hotmail.com.