SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The former MLA for the Sahtu says $10,000 of taxpayer money used to help him train to become a full-fledged motivational speaker is money well spent.

Norman Yakeleya recently traveled to Los Angeles to meet with motivational speaker Les Brown and learn the ins and outs of becoming an inspirational motivational speaker.

The funding was approved by the legislative assembly's Board of Management under its retraining assistance program.

He said Brown told him and a group of about 50 would-be motivational speakers that they have to learn how to craft a story that would resonate with an audience.

"I'd like to share a stage with Les Brown one day. He is considered to be one of the top motivational speakers in the world," said Yakeleya, who retired as MLA prior to the territorial election in the fall of 2015.

"He really spoke from the heart. He gave me the idea that someone's opinion of you is not necessarily your reality."

Yakeleya said his lifetime of experiences and overcoming obstacles to become an MLA, sets him up well as a motivational speaker.

"We all have a story to tell. We want to tell our stories and have people in the audience say, 'Yes, I've been there.' I can talk about my residential school experience growing up in a small Northern community," Yakeleya said. "Les Brown said to me - you have a story - share your story."

Yakeleya said that as unpleasant as his residential school memories are - others can learn and be motivated by what he has to tell them

"The boys were given a number than would identify us. We were not called by our names we were called by our numbers. That was the mindset for the boys," Yakeleya said. "When I left residential school that was entrenched in me. I had a name, but I was known as a number. But from my number to becoming me - that's my story."

Yakeleya said that Brown was impressed by that part of his story and encouraged him to tell it.

In terms of making a living as a motivational speaker, Yakeleya said it is still at its very early stages.

"Retired politicians like myself have a wealth of experience, good or bad. They've been through the trenches. They didn't become politicians for now good reason. I want to use my experience to help young people in my community and elsewhere," Yakeleya said. "Never, ever give up on your dreams no matter what age you are or your education level."

The retraining assistance program provides assistance to former members of the legislative assembly in their transition from public to private life. A member is entitled to $1,000 from the program for each year served, up to a maximum of $12,000.

Yakeleya said he has given motivational speeches already. He said he understands that his fee has to be on a sliding scale depending upon who he is speaking to.

He said he would not charge a school or a community group nearly as much as he would say addressing representatives of a company for instance.

He said he is encouraged by the fact that he has apparently motivated young people even before he said a word.

"I was encouraged by all these young people showing up at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning," Yakeleya. "I told them the first thing you have to do is show up in life."

Yakeleya said he has also used the funding for two courses, one online, the other taught in Calgary.

Yakeleya, 57, grew up in Fort Norman, now lives in Tulita. He began his political career as a municipal councillor before becoming chief of the Tulita Dene Band and chair of the Sahtu Tribal Council.

He was first elected to the legislative assembly in 2003 where he served three terms.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.