Jolene Saturnino has become the first woman and first Indigenous person to serve as clerk of the NWT’s legislature as Glen Rutland retired from the role.
Rutland served his last day as clerk on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on Friday. He formally retires early next year.
The clerk runs the affairs of the territorial legislature, which has about 50 staff and an annual budget of $28 million according to the job ad for Rutland’s successor.
Rutland took on the role in 2023 as the successor to Tim Mercer, who had served as clerk for the prior two decades.
MLAs shared words of appreciation and thanks to Rutland for his years of service on Friday.
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“Throughout your career as law clerk, deputy clerk, and ultimately clerk of the Legislative Assembly, you have brought knowledge, professionalism, sound judgment, and a profound respect for this assembly,” said Speaker Shane Thompson.
Mackenzie Delta MLA George Nerysoo even gave Rutland partial credit for the fact that he recently celebrated a full year of sobriety.
“That’s thanks to Glen for his involvement in making me a better person to serve the constituents of the Mackenzie Delta,” said Nerysoo.
A member of the Deninu Kųę́ First Nation, Saturnino is not only the first woman and first Indigenous person to hold the role of NWT clerk, but was also described by the legislature as the first Indigenous woman to serve as clerk of any Canadian legislature.
Saturnino previously served as deputy clerk before becoming assistant deputy minister for the Department of Justice.
