In pictures: Order of NWT inductees receive medals at legislature

Three Order of the Northwest Territories inductees were recognized for their contributions to the North at the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Speaker Shane Thompson presented honorary medals to Mary Teya, Helen Balanoff and Richard Hardy.

“I think it’s something really important. We respect our land, our homeland up here in the North and it is all towards that. I feel really good about it,” said Teya, who was at the ceremony with her daughter, two sisters and one of her great-grandsons.

Teya, of Fort McPherson, received the honour for her contributions to community leadership.

Teya has served on the Tetlit Gwich’in Band Council and NWT Elders Committee among other panels, and was a member of the board of directors at Housing NWT.

She told Cabin Radio she “couldn’t believe” her nomination when she first heard of it, and was really excited about “something so wonderful.”

Teya said she had dedicated her life to advocating for Elders and passing on her Gwich’in knowledge to younger people.

Asked what motivates her to keep going, she said: “I think it has a lot to do with our upbringing that we, at our age group, have gotten so much support and all the teachings in that regard from our parents, our grandparents and our people as a whole.”

“They were so close to each other, they communicated and they taught us well. So, all that has to do with this,” she explained.

“For the younger people that are listening at this time, it’s very important to communicate … with their peers, their parents, grandparents … They can become anything and they can become somebody if they take in all the teachings and use it towards their way of life.”

Longtime northerner Balanoff said she feels “very honoured” and “humbled” to share the recognition with people who have supported her through her journey.

Balanoff, who now lives in British Columbia, moved to Canada from Scotland in 1973. She decided to move to the territory with her husband after they landed jobs there.

In 1981, she relocated to Yellowknife and went on to stay in the city for roughly four decades. Though partly retired, she frequently returns to the NWT for work.

“In some ways, it sounds like you have done all of this on your own, but you haven’t. I have worked with many, many people. I’ve always been part of a team,” she said.

“When you see people succeeding, that’s a lot. I think it’s really important to celebrate success and recognize that for some people, success is really hard to bring.”

Richard Hardy of Tulita said Thursday at the legislature marked a “significant day” for him and his family.

After earning a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan, Hardy said he became only the second Indigenous lawyer in the territory.

“After that, a number of young people came forward, went to law school, got their degrees and are practising,” he said.

“A number of them have approached me over the years and said, ‘Thank you for breaking the trail for us. We never thought it would be possible, but hey, we saw you get it so I guess we could, too.'”

Hardy lived in Inuvik and Yellowknife for more than 50 years before moving to Nanoose Bay in BC.

“I really was not expecting it. I’ve been mostly retired for a number of years now and thought everybody had forgotten about me,” he said of receiving the call about his nomination.

“I would encourage young people who are starting their careers to consider law. I think it’s a very important part of all our lives. They should do it,” he said.

“I’m living proof it’s possible.”