Nearly five decades later, Gail Cyr still remembers the bustle and energy of YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Gold Range Hotel in the mid-1970s.

Everyone from the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 commissioner on down was there, but only if they arrived early enough to secure a seat at the bar.

SA国际影视传媒淚 loved it. I loved working in the Gold Range,SA国际影视传媒� Cyr says. SA国际影视传媒淚 was a barmaid, and we had to wear hotpants and high heels and carry 16, 15-ounce draft glasses, and your change purse and ashtrays, and a little wallet to hold the bills. ISA国际影视传媒檝e got a very good strong left arm from that.SA国际影视传媒�

From that first job as a waitress and barmaid, Cyr would launch a career that would take her across the territory during a period of rapid change. The Gold Range Hotel is still be standing at the same location on 50 street, but around it things have evolved dramatically in the city and in the territory since Cyr, now 69, arrived nearly 50 years ago. Not only was she present for many of these changes, in many cases she was at the forefront of making them happen.

After a tumultuous upbringing in the foster system in Manitoba, living in five different homes in as many years of life, Cyr came to the NWT in 1974 in search of better opportunities. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 when she landed a job at the Gold Range.

Then, out of the blue, an opportunity presented itself to work for the Dene Nation, which was then called the Indian Brotherhood of the NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淚 just happened to be there at the right time and said, OK, I think I can do that,SA国际影视传媒� she recalls.

Cyr found herself coordinating logistics for the first ever joint M茅tis-Dene assembly, which was convened to discuss comprehensive land agreements between the two nations and the federal government.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 listening to some of the speeches and some of the presentations, and ISA国际影视传媒檓 going, SA国际影视传媒業SA国际影视传媒檓 watching history being created right now. And I think ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to hang around and see how it all works out.SA国际影视传媒� So thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what made me stay and move here.SA国际影视传媒�

The meetings were part of a years-long process that would result in the signing of the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement and Sahtu Dene and M茅tis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement.

In 1975, Cyr became the first executive director of the NWT Native Court WorkersSA国际影视传媒� Association. With the shifting of administrative power in the territory from Ottawa to Yellowknife just several years earlier, the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 legal system was in constant flux at the time.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey were doing some fast and furious legislation,SA国际影视传媒� says Cyr. SA国际影视传媒淎nd of course, it was impacting people really fast and hard. The hunting, all those kinds of rights that you would have SA国际影视传媒� town planning, all kinds of things. So people were really overwhelmed.

This was also a time of general fear and distrust of the legal system, especially in smaller communities, she recalls.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople were too shy to go to court, so a lot of times people would just plead guilty and get it over with, because they were too scared of it,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒淎nd thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what really concerned the justices, because they were concerned that people were accepting the guilty plea when they shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be.SA国际影视传媒�

Through her organization, Cyr helped connect those in smaller communities with Indigenous legal experts who spoke their language and understood their culture.

While still working with the Native Court WorkersSA国际影视传媒� Association, she was encouraged by many in Yellowknife to run for city council, winning a seat in 1984. At the time, she was the only Indigenous alderman on council.

Many of the decisions made during those 10 years are still resonating today, including the construction of both the curling rink and the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool SA国际影视传媒� council had originally wanted to build one or the other SA国际影视传媒� and the choice to preserve rather than develop YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Old Town.

Despite retiring in 2017, Cyr hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 slowed in her activism. As a commissioner for the NWT Human Rights Commission, she helps to spread awareness about the Human Rights Act across the territory, where violations related to housing and tenancy abound.

When Cyr received a letter informing her she would be appointed to the Order of Canada SA国际影视传媒� awarded through the Governor GeneralSA国际影视传媒檚 office SA国际影视传媒� it was a full month before the public would learn of the honour on Dec. 29 of last year. Cyr says sheSA国际影视传媒檚 especially proud to share the honour with former Saskatchewan senator Lillian Dyck, who was recognized for her advocacy on behalf of Indigenous peoples and racial minorities.

Because of the pandemic, a proper in-person ceremony has yet to take place.

Despite the radical changes of the past five decades, there are some respects in which her community hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 changed. About 15 years ago, Cyr slipped and fell while leaving the grocery store.

SA国际影视传媒淚 kind of just laid there for a bit thinking, SA国际影视传媒楧id I hit my head. Did I break anything?SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�

Instead of helping her up, passersby stepped over or around her.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 sure they thought I was drunk. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the prevailing attitude, right? ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 when my hair was still dark, dark dark.SA国际影视传媒�

However, she says she still doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 let those kinds of experiences faze her.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou have to stand up for yourself. DonSA国际影视传媒檛 take this stuff SA国际影视传媒� you gotta fight it.SA国际影视传媒�