William Wallace Cory
Encyclopedia
William Wallace Cory was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
from June 27, 1919 to February 17, 1931.
Only the second Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to take the post, Cory inherited a region that had barely been governed during the time of his predecessor.
Within months the new Commissioner had enacted a new ordinance
(or law
) regarding entry into the Northwest Territories, restricting access only to those pre-approved by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
at various outposts in Alberta
or the Yukon
. The ordinance was cancelled a year later having been deemed ultra vires
however during his office Commissioner Cory pursued further administration of the Territories, overseeing the appointment of councillor
s for the first time and establishing operations to facilitate the expansion of oil
and gas
interests in the region including the opening of the Territories' administration offices at Fort Smith
in 1921.
and including future white interests in the Territories. It did not make any reference to the interests of the approximately 3,500 aboriginal population of the District of Mackenzie
at that time. However alternative evidence suggests Cory himself was sympathetic to the region's Inuit
populace as highlighted in a letter to the Hudson's Bay Company
secretary, Edward Fitzgerald accusing Hudson's Bay Company post managers of exploiting the Inuit, and casting doubt on whether the Company could reform its trading system to prevent such abuses.
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...
from June 27, 1919 to February 17, 1931.
Only the second Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to take the post, Cory inherited a region that had barely been governed during the time of his predecessor.
Within months the new Commissioner had enacted a new ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
(or law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
) regarding entry into the Northwest Territories, restricting access only to those pre-approved by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
at various outposts in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
or the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
. The ordinance was cancelled a year later having been deemed ultra vires
Ultra vires
Ultra vires is a Latin phrase meaning literally "beyond the powers", although its standard legal translation and substitute is "beyond power". If an act requires legal authority and it is done with such authority, it is...
however during his office Commissioner Cory pursued further administration of the Territories, overseeing the appointment of councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s for the first time and establishing operations to facilitate the expansion of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
interests in the region including the opening of the Territories' administration offices at Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories
Fort Smith is a town in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located in the southeastern portion of the Northwest Territories, on the Slave River and adjacent to the NWT/Alberta border.-History:Fort Smith's history began because of the Slave River and the vital link...
in 1921.
Aboriginal interests
Later in 1921, a memo from the Commissioner's office concerned the well-being of the 150 white settlers of the District of MackenzieDistrict of Mackenzie
The District of Mackenzie was a regional administrative district of Canada's Northwest Territories. The district consisted of the portion of the Northwest Territories directly north of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan on Canada's mainland....
and including future white interests in the Territories. It did not make any reference to the interests of the approximately 3,500 aboriginal population of the District of Mackenzie
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
at that time. However alternative evidence suggests Cory himself was sympathetic to the region's Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
populace as highlighted in a letter to the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
secretary, Edward Fitzgerald accusing Hudson's Bay Company post managers of exploiting the Inuit, and casting doubt on whether the Company could reform its trading system to prevent such abuses.
See also
- History of Northwest TerritoriesHistory of Northwest TerritoriesThe History of the Northwest Territories has been a struggle for responsible government, provincial rights, and social development.-Pre-Confederation history:The territories were purchased from the Hudson's Bay Company.-History 1869 - 1876:...
- History of Northwest Territories capital citiesHistory of Northwest Territories capital citiesThe history of Northwest Territories capital cities begins with the purchase of the Territories by Canada from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1869 and includes a varied and often difficult evolution. Northwest Territories is unique amongst the other provinces and territories of Canada in that it has...
- Mount Cory (Alberta)Mount Cory (Alberta)Mount Cory is a mountain located in the Bow River Valley in southeast Banff National Park, Canada. The mountain was named in 1923 after William Wallace Cory, deputy minister of the Interior from 1905 to 1930....