Good afternoon, colleagues. I’d like to acknowledge a former Member who passed away, a former scholar, activist and politician, Robert Williamson. He passed away at the age of 90 on Sunday, February 12, 2012. Mr. Williamson was the first elected Member for a newly formed Keewatin riding, later known as the Central Arctic riding. He was a member of the 5th and 6th Assemblies of the
NWT Council from 1966 to 1970.
Mr. Williamson was born in England, November 2, 1931, and immigrated to Canada in 1952.
He began his long career in the North in the community of Fort Simpson where he started recording Dene folklore. In the 1950s, he lived in Pangnirtung where he learned to speak Inuktitut and founded the first Inuit language journal: “Inuktitut.”
Mr. Williamson taught at the University of Saskatchewan and was chair of the university’s International Committee. In his time in the North he helped establish the Arctic Research and Training Centre in Rankin Inlet and in 1958 founded the Eskimology section at the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. He also worked with the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, Canadian Eskimo Arts Council, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference and the CBC Northern Service. In 1983 he was invested into the Order of Canada.
Mr. Williamson was married to Karla Jessen Williamson. He had two children from his second marriage and four children from his first marriage. Our condolences go out to the Williamson family.
To pay respect to a former Member of the Legislative Assembly, our flags will be flying at half-mast today.
Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements.