Of Metis heritage, Norris was the first aboriginal commissioner. Now 66, the former commissioner has spent the last seven years in Hay River, where he is enjoying what he calls a quiet retirement.

News/North: What did you do before being appointed commissioner?

Dan Norris: I spent a lot of time in government as regional director for the Inuvik region. In those days, the territories were so big they had it split up into different areas -- the Fort Smith region, the Inuvik region and so on. There was a regional director in each area, and they were responsible for the total governmental operations of all departments in that region.

N/N: Before that, did you work your way up through the ranks of the territorial government?

DN: I was the assistant regional director for a few years. Prior to that, I was the superintendent of personnel. I spent 35 years in government, so when I ended my term as commissioner, it was time to retire.

N/N: How were you chosen to become commissioner?

DN: I wasn't directly involved in the process actually, but I understand that all the communities had the opportunity of submitting names as to who they'd like to see as commissioner. The legislative assembly then met once or twice and sorted through them, and I was fortunate enough to come out on top.

N/N: What was your reaction when you found out?

DN: I was a little surprised and honoured. I actually just about didn't take it, because I was very happy in Inuvik.

I had cabins just outside of Inuvik that were very nice ones that I'd spent many days and weekends building. I had a nice home there and my family was there, so I had really settled in -- it was a tough decision to suddenly pull up roots.

N/N: What made you decide to accept?

DN: I thought a chance like that would only come once in a lifetime. It was only for a five-year period.

I always liked a challenge, so I decided to accept it.

N/N: What was it like being commissioner?

DN: It was a very hectic schedule in terms of travelling. You not only had to cover the West, you had to cover the East. I travelled all over the eastern Arctic. It was an interesting situation because it was following John Parker, who initiated ministerial government.

Prior to that, the commissioner was the sole source of power in terms of making decisions in the government. Suddenly that had drastically changed. So I stepped in right behind him and had to deal with the aftermath of that, which in that sense was very good. I rather enjoyed that.

There were situations when I went out to the communities that they still considered the commissioner to be the person that could get them a fire truck tomorrow. They brought a lot of problems to me and I certainly didn't want to turn them away, so I had to handle it diplomatically. I always took notes and when I got back to Yellowknife, I'd simply write the appropriate minister and tell him of concerns that were raised at this particular time. It worked very well.

N/N: After Mr. Parker, did the commissioner become more like a lieutenant-governor type position?

DN: That's exactly what it became ... I was in the transition period, much of it.

N/N: Do people today understand the role of the commissioner?

DN: They still recognize that it's a very high-profile position and, if you get the ear of the commissioner and the commissioner goes to bat for you, it's going to be helpful. So, in that sense, I think the commissioner gets a fair amount of attention.

N/N: Why do the territories not have lieutenant-governors like the provinces?

DN: That's a good question. I think everything has to evolve from somewhere. The commissioner seemed to be the appropriate way to go at the time. I think eventually they will become lieutenant-governors. It will take time to evolve into that. When I first arrived in Yellowknife, the premier was called the government leader. It took a while before they got around to changing that to premier.

N/N: What's a memorable experience from your time as commissioner?

DN: I guess one of the things that immediately comes to mind is flying out of Cambridge Bay in the middle of a blizzard.

A fellow who owns an airline there came over to the hotel one evening -- and it was just raging outside -- and said, "I have a medical emergency. I'm going to take a run at it and see if I can take off."

I knew he was an excellent pilot and I said, "Well, if he's going to try it, I'll go." I don't know to this day how he took off, because I couldn't see anything. Even the runway lights going by, you couldn't see them. So that was kind of exciting.

N/N: Did you enjoy your time as commissioner?

DN: It was enjoyable, but you were sort of on call 24 hours a day, and you'd never know when the phone was going to ring. Everyone wants you to go somewhere and do something.

N/N: Were you born in Inuvik?

DN: I was born at a trapper's cabin 35 miles outside of Inuvik.

N/N: What were your younger days like growing up in Inuvik?

DN: It was pretty good because actually it gave me a good background. My friends were Gwich'in, Inuvialuit, Metis, anyone and everyone you could think of. Inuvik is one of the few regions in the Northwest Territories, and maybe Yellowknife, that has all the cultures there.

N/N: Were you the first aboriginal person to become commissioner?

DN: I was the first aboriginal person to become commissioner. I was also the first aboriginal person to become a regional director.

N/N: What do you do now in retirement?

DN: In the summertime I golf and garden and travel a bit. In the wintertime I travel quite a bit, otherwise I just take it easy. When I came here I thought I'd be retiring and wouldn't take on anything for a long period of time, but now I'm getting to the point where I feel it would be interesting to get back into something.

N/N: Was there any particular reason you chose to retire in Hay River?

DN: When I was commissioner, I used to come here on occasion on business. But I've got two sisters here now and their families. I like Hay River. I always did. The climate suited me and the size suited me, and the location suited me. I wanted to retire to some place that didn't have such a long, long winter. I love Inuvik and I totally know the Delta backwards and forwards, and I love hunting there. But the winters are very long and very tough. The winters were not so long here and I thought I'd try Hay River, and I moved here.