The legislature was abuzz with the sounds of celebratory drumming on Aug. 5 at the swearing-in ceremony of Monfwi MLA-elect Jane Weyallon Armstrong.
The new MLA won the by-election on July 28, following the resignation in June of long-serving legislator Jackson Lafferty.
RELATED REPORTING: Jane Weyallon Armstrong elected MLA for Northwest Territories riding of Monfwi
RELATED REPORTING: Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty resigns
Commissioner Margaret Thom led Armstrong through her oaths of office and allegiance, after which dozens of her family members and supporters, as well as MLAs, danced in a circle in the lobby while drummers played.
SA国际影视传媒淚 feel relieved to be sworn in and I thought about my late parents and my ancestors,SA国际影视传媒� Weyallon Armstrong told Yellowknifer at the reception. SA国际影视传媒�(I think) there are lots of things they would like to see accomplished. The Elders worry for what is happening in our region. The womenSA国际影视传媒檚 role is important for them.SA国际影视传媒�
While Weyallon Armstrong said she doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to focus on her gender, she said some young people joked to her that it took SA国际影视传媒�100 yearsSA国际影视传媒� for a woman to assume such a leadership role in her region.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a big accomplishment. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 time. We need change. We need womenSA国际影视传媒檚 views,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Weyallon Armstrong is now the 10th female member of the 19-member legislative assembly SA国际影视传媒� a government that had already made headlines during the 2019 election for bringing five women into cabinet, including Premier Caroline Cochrane.
RELATED REPORTING: Caroline Cochrane becomes CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 only female premier
Weyallon ArmstrongSA国际影视传媒檚 main priorities as an MLA will be housing and social issues in her constituency.
SA国际影视传媒淚 canSA国际影视传媒檛 do it alone. ISA国际影视传媒檒l need the peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 help and MLAsSA国际影视传媒� help,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen I visited a remote community, one Elder told me that when a vehicle goes into a ditch you canSA国际影视传媒檛 get it out by yourself, but when you have a few people helping, you can. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 how you can move forward and make progress.SA国际影视传媒�
As president of the Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of the NWT for the last six years, Weyallon Armstrong plans to continue putting domestic violence and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on the agenda in the legislative assembly.
SA国际影视传媒淎nd people are concerned about the all-season road coming into What矛. A lot of healing needs to be done,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
As a fluent T艂谋台cho台 speaker, she is ready to use her language when giving speeches in the assembly.
Weyallon ArmstrongSA国际影视传媒檚 first sitting as an MLA will be on Oct. 14, when the assembly returns after the summer break.
