Members of the Northwest Territories Legislature

Member for Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty was acclaimed to the 18th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in November 2015 representing the constituency of Monfwi.

Previously, Mr. Lafferty was elected to the 15th Legislative Assembly in a July 2005 by-election, re-elected to the 16th Assembly in October 2007, and then re-elected to the 17th Assembly in October 2011.

During the 17th Legislative Assembly, Mr. Lafferty was the Deputy Premier, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Minister Responsible for Official Languages, and Minister Responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

Prior to being elected to the 15th Assembly, Mr. Lafferty worked as a Superintendent of Participation Agreements with Diavik Diamond Mines Inc.  His other previous work experience includes: Community Development & Empowerment Coordinator for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Administrator for the Rae-Edzo School Society, Assistant Manager for the Rae-Edzo Dene Band Development Corporation, and Community Liaison for Diavik Diamond Mines Inc.

Mr. Lafferty has served on various boards and agencies including the Board of Governors for Aurora College and the Board of Directors for the Métis Dene Development Fund. In addition, he was Chairperson of the Dogrib Community Services Board, Chairperson of the Dogrib Post-Secondary Scholarship Fund and Band Councilor for the Dogrib Rae Band.

Mr. Lafferty is a dedicated advocate of language, culture and heritage revitalization for the North. He has been present at each national Truth and Reconciliation Commission event. In 2011, he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Nunavut and the Legacy of Hope Foundation to develop a comprehensive and mandated residential schools teaching resource, which is in its third year of use in NWT and Nunavut schools.

A fluent speaker of Tłįchǫ, he spearheaded the implementation of both the Francophone Affairs Secretariat and the Aboriginal Languages Secretariat to provide comprehensive and standardized services to language communities across the NWT.

Under the leadership of Mr. Lafferty, junior kindergarten will be implemented in every community in the NWT over three years, system wide education renewal is underway, and a comprehensive post-secondary education and training initiative is in development.  In July 2013, his provincial and territorial colleagues in the Council for Ministers of Education in Canada (CMEC) requested that he lead the efforts to improve Aboriginal student access across Canada.

Mr. Lafferty and his wife, Dianne, have five children. They have resided in Yellowknife since 2003.