Tributes and condolences are pouring in for the late Kristine McLeod.
The Deputy Grand Chief, who had just celebrated her 38th birthday Aug. 3, was killed in a car accident on the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway early Aug. 8 at approximately 7:15 a.m. A second male who has not been identified was medevacSA国际影视传媒檈d to Yellowknife for treatment from the collision and a collision analyst has been brought in to assist in the investigation.
Confirming McLeod was the person killed in the car accident, 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Tribal Council Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik said she leaves a huge void for the GTC leadership to fill, as she was overseeing the nationSA国际影视传媒檚 efforts to improve health and wellness, preserve its culture and heritage and well as improving education and training opportunities for beneficiaries of all ages. And thatSA国际影视传媒檚 just a small sample of the many projects she had on the go.
SA国际影视传媒淎 major component of her time was spent on revamping our 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Wellness Camp,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪he was working with Helen Sullivan, our project manager, on retrofitting the facility and seeking programming dollars to install biomass furnaces and solar panels. She was restructuring things so we could improve the efficiency of that building and eventually provide health and wellness programming to the residents of the Beaufort Delta region.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a major goal of hers to get that facility up and running SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 so desperately needed, not just in the Delta but all the North. Mental health and addictions is a key issue in our community, and Deputy Grand Chief McLeod knew that very well from engaging with our people. Homelessness was another issue here in Inuvik that she made a personal commitment to tackle with some of the other agencies here in town.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod was active up until the day of her death, most recently assisting in the funeral of Elder Donald Modeste, while in isolation after returning from outside the Northwest Territories.
Upon finishing her self-isolation, McLeod was on the road immediately, attending Agnes MitchellSA国际影视传媒檚 Dinjii Zhuh Language Immersion Camp Aug. 5 to promote usage of the 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 dialect and grow community.
SA国际影视传媒淥ur hearts and thoughts are with the 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Nation and all the people of the Mackenzie Delta whose lives have been touched by this tragedy,SA国际影视传媒� said Inuvik Mayor Natasha Kulikowski in a statement. SA国际影视传媒淚n the coming days and weeks, we encourage Inuvik residents to come together, lean on each other for support and to please reach out to available resources should you need during this difficult time.SA国际影视传媒�
Her death comes just a week before the 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Tribal 颁辞耻苍肠颈濒SA国际影视传媒檚 annual assembly was to begin, however the assembly has been postponed. Kyikavichik said the first task the assembly would deal with was how to proceed.
Nihtat 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 颁辞耻苍肠颈濒SA国际影视传媒檚 annual general assembly is Sept. 11 to 12 and Inuvik Native BandSA国际影视传媒檚 AGA is Aug. 28.
Continuing KristineSA国际影视传媒檚 vision in her memory
This is the second time a 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Tribal Council leader has died while in office. GTC President Robert Alexie passed away in 2014.
SA国际影视传媒淪he was a strong leader and a passionate advocate for the 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍,SA国际影视传媒� said NWT MP Michael McLeod. SA国际影视传媒淢y thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod was elected deputy grand chief less than a year ago, last Sept. 4, after earning 551 votes.
She had campaigned on improving capacity for skilled and education in 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 lands and establishing an ElderSA国际影视传媒檚 Advisory Council. McLeod also served as president of the Nihtat Youth Council in her early teens and also served terms as vice chair of the Izhii KSA国际影视传媒檃iikSA国际影视传媒檌t Tat 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 society and chair of the 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Settlement Corporation.
SA国际影视传媒淜ristine McLeod spent her life working for the 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 people,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Premier Caroline Cochrane on Twitter. SA国际影视传媒淪he wanted a better future for the 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 and was dedicated to achieving this.SA国际影视传媒�
She is survived by her parents Vern and Sandra McLeod, grandmother Sarah McLeod-Firth, husband Leslie Semmler and her two children, Lennox and Alexis, her younger sister Molly, her younger sister Jessi, her older brother Jeremy and her brother Kelly, who is the current Nihtat 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Council President.
"In Kristine's time as Deputy Grand Chief," said Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Chair Duane Ningaqsiq Smith. "She was a strong leader, passionate about helping people and will be remembered as such."
骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Tribal Council is offering mental health and counselling support to the community. An announcement the same day said the organization is working to provide counselling in each of the 骋飞颈肠丑SA国际影视传媒檌苍 Settlement Area communities. In the interim, anyone in need of counselling or mental health assistance is asked to contact GTC manager of human resources Chris Schwartz at chris_schwartz@gwichintribal.ca or by phone at (867)-777-7379 or GTC health and wellness manager Susan Keats at susan_keats@gwichintribal.ca or by phone at (867)-777-7939.
A healing circle is also being held Aug. 10 at Ingamo Hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for people to gather and remember her.
SA国际影视传媒淒eputy Grand Chief McLeod brought good energy and sound advice that inspired many people, young and Elder, to believe in the strength of unity, education and compassion for the rights of the people,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Dene National Chief Norm Yakeleya. SA国际影视传媒淎s a leader, I admired the dedication, knowledge and energy she brought to the table and her generous way with the people.SA国际影视传媒�
Kyikavichik said McLeod had put a lot of work into making sure things under her watch could be picked up by another, so he said he expected her work to continue on in her memory.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think we need to move forward, albeit in a different manner,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e certainly wonSA国际影视传媒檛 have the significant skills and expertise that she brought to the position, but she worked to structure things in a way that will set us up for future success.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a shame that she wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be here to see it through, but she was very clear in articulating the vision she had for our people SA国际影视传媒� one of unity, togetherness and working to be a stronger people by helping each other out as well as we can.SA国际影视传媒�
Inuvik Drum would like to express our condolences to McLeodSA国际影视传媒檚 family.
