On The Passing of Bertha Allen

I was saddened over the weekend to learn of the passing of Bertha Allen.

Bertha Allen worked tirelessly on behalf of Aboriginal women; she was President of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women of the Northwest Territories, founding President of the Native Women's Association of the Northwest Territories, and a former President of the Native Women's Association of Canada. She also served on the Northwest Territories Constitutional Committee, the National Aboriginal Advisory Committee to the RCMP Commissioner, the Northwest Territories Judicial Appointments Committee, and the Multicultural Advisory Committee to the RCMP.

In 2007, Bertha was named to the Order of Canada, and in 2009, the Governor General awarded her the Northern Medal for her "leadership in support of equality for aboriginal and northern women."

My condolences go out to her family and friends, and the communities of Old Crow, Yukon, where she was born, and Inuvik, NWT, where she spent much of her life.

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