Cournoyea, Nellie J. (1940–)

views updated

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).