Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Sep 23/05) - For Margaret Thom, who was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the NWT last week, the hardest part about the ceremonial post might be keeping her thoughts private.

"I am an opinionated person," Thom said Wednesday after being sworn in during a ceremony in her home town of Fort Providence. "I guess I will have to choose my words carefully."

Thom, who becomes the third woman to hold the position, is a school councillor and long-time education advocate. She has also lobbied to preserve traditional Dene culture and language. The deputy commissioner represents the government in official business, though the role is not political.

"There are some limitations, so I will have to find the best way to express myself," she said with a laugh.

While Thom was appointed this summer, her position became official following the ceremony Wednesday that included several political heavyweights. Premier Joe Handley called her "a tremendous asset to the Northwest Territories" and someone who "gets things done."

"I do not think we could have found a finer person than Margaret Thom," Handley said. "If we had 100 people like her, we would overcome our challenges with language and culture preservation."

Transportation and Municipal and Community Affairs minister Michael McLeod nominated Thom for the position earlier this year.

"She is very dedicated to making this a better world," McLeod said Wednesday.

Thom said she hoped to increase the profile of the post and provide an example to other First Nations women.

"This is indeed a high honour, not only for myself, but also for aboriginal women," she said.