James Wah-Shee
Encyclopedia
James Wah-Shee is a former territorial level politician from Northwest Territories
, Canada
. He served as a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1979 until 1987.
In the 1970s Wah-Shee became President of the Dene Nation
.
Wah-Shee ran for a seat in the Northwest Territories Legislature in the 1975 Northwest Territories general election
. His candidacy caused controversy at the time, because he ran for election against the wishes of the Dene chiefs. In response to him running for office he was deposed as President. George Erasmus who was leading a boycott on Dene running in the territorial elections at the time replaced him. Wah-Shee was elected, winning the Great Slave
electoral district.
After being elected to his first term, Wah-Shee quickly resigned with fellow Member George Barnaby
over the lack of attention to Dene issues being focused on in the Legislature. The Northwest Territories government responded by creating the Department of Natural and Cultural Affairs to focus on aboriginal issues. Wah-Shee was returned to council in the subsequent by-election and Erasmus lifted his boycott.
He ran for re-election in the 1979 Northwest Territories general election
and was elected to the new Rae-Lac La Martre electoral district, after his old district was split. Wah-Shee would be re-elected to his final term in office in the 1983 Northwest Territories general election
. He did not return when the Legislature dissolved in 1987.
Wah-Shee attempted to win a seat again in the 1999 Northwest Territories general election
but was defeated by Leon Lafferty
in a tight eight way race.
Wah-Shee designed the flag for the Tåîchô Government
.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1979 until 1987.
In the 1970s Wah-Shee became President of the Dene Nation
Dene
The Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...
.
Wah-Shee ran for a seat in the Northwest Territories Legislature in the 1975 Northwest Territories general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1975
The Northwest Territories general election, 1975 was the 13th general election in the Northwest Territories history. The election took place on March 10, 1975. This was the first general election since 1902 that all the members of the assembly were elected...
. His candidacy caused controversy at the time, because he ran for election against the wishes of the Dene chiefs. In response to him running for office he was deposed as President. George Erasmus who was leading a boycott on Dene running in the territorial elections at the time replaced him. Wah-Shee was elected, winning the Great Slave
Great Slave
Great Slave is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada.It is one of seven districts that represent Yellowknife and the current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Glen Abernethy...
electoral district.
After being elected to his first term, Wah-Shee quickly resigned with fellow Member George Barnaby
George Barnaby
George Barnaby is a former territorial level politician from Northwest Territories, Canada. He served as a member of the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1975 until 1976....
over the lack of attention to Dene issues being focused on in the Legislature. The Northwest Territories government responded by creating the Department of Natural and Cultural Affairs to focus on aboriginal issues. Wah-Shee was returned to council in the subsequent by-election and Erasmus lifted his boycott.
He ran for re-election in the 1979 Northwest Territories general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1979
The Northwest Territories general election, 1979 was the 14th general election in the Northwest Territories history. The election took place on October 1, 1979....
and was elected to the new Rae-Lac La Martre electoral district, after his old district was split. Wah-Shee would be re-elected to his final term in office in the 1983 Northwest Territories general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1983
The Northwest Territories general election, 1983 was the 15th general election in the Northwest Territories history. The election took place on November 21, 1983....
. He did not return when the Legislature dissolved in 1987.
Wah-Shee attempted to win a seat again in the 1999 Northwest Territories general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1999
The Northwest Territories general election, 1999 took place on December 6, 1999, and was the 19th general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. This was the first election under the new boundaries that were created when Nunavut was carved out of the Northwest Territories...
but was defeated by Leon Lafferty
Leon Lafferty
Leon Lafferty is a municipal and a territorial level politician in Northwest Territories, Canada.Lafferty ran for a seat in the Northwest Territories Legislature in the 1995 Northwest Territories general election. He was defeated by James Rabesca...
in a tight eight way race.
Wah-Shee designed the flag for the Tåîchô Government
Tli Cho
The Tłįchǫ or Tåîchô First Nation, formerly known as the Dogrib, are a Dene Aboriginal Canadian people living in the Northwest Territories , Canada....
.