Grafton Njootli

Infobox_Politician


imagesize = 150px
name = Grafton Njootli
small| caption =
birth_date = March 10, 1947
birth_place = Old Crow, Yukon
residence =
death_date = c. June 20, 1999
office = MLA for Old Crow
term_start = 1978
term_end = 1982
predecessor = first member
successor = Kathie Nukon
party = Progressive Conservative
religion =
occupation =

Grafton Njootli (March 10, 1947 - c. June 20, 1999) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Old Crow in the Yukon Legislative Assembly from 1978 to 1982 as a member of the Yukon Progressive Conservative Party.

Njootli, a community development and land claims advocate from the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, was the first aboriginal person elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly. He was appointed Minister of Health and Human Resources in the government of Chris Pearson, but was forced to resign from the cabinet on May 25, 1979 after it was revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating an allegation that he had physically assaulted a female cab driver. [ [http://www.hougens.com/yukonHistory/facts_year/1970s.aspx?year70=1979 Yukon History] ]

He was subsequently appointed Deputy Speaker of the House on October 14, 1980, and served in that capacity until the dissolution of the legislature in 1982.

Njootli died in June of 1999 in a boating accident. His funeral was held on June 22 of that year. [ [http://www.hansard.gov.yk.ca/29-legislature/session1/162_nov_2_1999.html Yukon Legislative Assembly "Hansard"] , November 2, 1999.]

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