Nellie cournoyea biography

Nellie Cournoyea OC ONWT is a Canadian politician, who served as the sixth premier of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995.
Nellie J. Cournoyea, OC, ONWT, premier of the Northwest Territories 1991–95, politician (born on 4 March 1940 in Aklavik, NT).
Ms.

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Nellie Cournoyea

Few Canadians hold the personal and professional achievements of Nellie Cournoyea.

‘Mother of Confederation’ for her role in the Charlottetown accord.

A member of the Order of Canada, and the Order of the Northwest Territories.

Recipient of several honorary law degrees, and awards.

On top of that, Cournoyea was the first – and to date, only – women to become premier of the Northwest Territories. After Johnston, she was the second women in Canada to become premier.

Cournoyea lives in Tuktoyaktuk, an Inuvialuit Hamlet in the northern Northwest Territories. Her home backs onto the Arctic Ocean, where her own fishing nets are cast out back.

When asked to host a visit and participate in an interview for the No Second Chances project, Cournoyea’s response was, ”well it depends if the fish are biting that day.”

Cournoyea was born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories in 1940. She was elected to the Territorial Legislative Assembly in 1979, holding a variety of cabinet positions. She was very active in the negotiation of l

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Nellie Cournoyea

Public Service (1994)

As Premier of the Northwest Territories since 1991, Nellie Cournoyea is guiding northerners through what might well prove to be the most significant period of change in the history of the north. She has played an important role in economic development, land claims, national constitutional discussions, and broadcasting in the north.

Ms. Cournoyea was born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories. Her early professional experience provided her with a wide range of expertise that has contributed to her success in her current role as a leader in the Northwest Territories. She has worked at CBC Inuvik for nine years, as an announcer and station manager, served as a land claims fieldworker for the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, and was a founding member, and later administrator and land rights worker, for the Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement (COPE).

In 1976, COPE, under Ms. Cournoyea’s leadership, entered into direct negotiations with the Government of Canada for a land claims settlement. During the eight year period

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Cournoyea, Nellie J. (1940–)

Native Canadian political leader. Born 1940 in Aldavik, Alberta, Canada; father an immigrant from Norway; mother an Inupiak from Herschel Island; married with children.

Fighter for aboriginal self-determination, worked at CBC Inuvik for 9 years as an announcer and station manager and was a land-claim fieldworker for the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK); was a founding member, later administrator and land-rights worker, of the Committee of Original Peoples' Entitlement (COPE); represented the riding of Nunakput (1979–95) and served as premier of the Northwest Territories (1991–95), the 1st Native Woman elected premier in Canada; was minister of Health and Social Services, minister Responsible for Northwest Territories Power Corporation, minister of Renewable Resources, minister of Culture and Communications, minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, minister of Public Works and Highways, and minister Responsible for Workers' Compensation Board; became managing director of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (1995).

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