Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Dene, 1951-
She was the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to the
Parliament of Canada. Blondin-Andrew is a Dene who was the Member
of Parliament for the district of Western Arctic in the Northwest
Territories. She was first elected in the 1988 election. She was
re-elected in 1993 and was appointed Secretary of State for Training
and Youth, making her the first Aboriginal woman to become member
of the Privy Council and Cabinet. Blondin-Andrew was born in Tulita,
Northwest Territories, and graduated with a bachelor's degree
in education from the University of Alberta. She was one of the
first accredited Aboriginal teachers in the North Before embarking
upon her political career, she spent many years working in the
North as a teacher, Blondin-Andrew worked as Acting Director of
the Public Service Commission of Canada, and as National Manager
of Indigenous Development Programs and Assistant Deputy Minister
of Culture and Communications for the Government of the Northwest
Territories. Under Prime Ministers Chrétien and Martin,
she served as Secretary of State then Minister of State, respectively,
for Children and Youth. She was re-elected in the 2004 election
by a thin margin and was named Minister of State for Northern
Development under Paul Martin. She was defeated in the 2006 election.
