Remembering Asger 'Red' Pedersen, former N.W.T. MLA and 'honourary Inuk'
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The late Asger "Red" Pedersen had a number of feathers in his cap, as a twice-elected MLA, former cabinet minister and Speaker of the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly, former mayor of Kugluktuk, Nunavut, and as a member of both the Order of Nunavut and the Order of Canada.
But according to his son, there was one title that meant more to Pedersen than any other: "honourary Inuk."
"You know, those were his peers when he grew up here in the North. And he lived out on the land with many Inuit and worked with Inuit," said Fred Pedersen.
"He thought that was a big honour."
That title was bestowed upon Red Pedersen, who died on May 30 at the age of 89, by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA), which had also made him an honourary lifetime member.
Flags at the KIA office in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, were flying at half-mast after his death, out of respect for an "incredible individual" who left a "permanent, positive mark on the North," according to a news release from KIA on Monday.
Red Pedersen was born in Denmark and came to the Canadian North at the age of 17 to work for the Hudson's Bay Company. He then spent most of the rest of his life in the North, in different parts of the N.W.T. and Nunavut, and also moved south for periods of time to be closer to some of his children. But Fred Pedersen — who's now the executive director of the KIA — says his father would always return to Kugluktuk.
"That was home for him, and that's where he felt most comfortable," Fred Pedersen said.
"He first came up to the Arctic 72 years ago. So, you know, that was back in the [time of] dog teams and igloos and tents and things like that. So you know, when you're living in the Arctic back then, I think you have to be an outdoorsy person."
Pedersen was first elected MLA for the Kitikmeot West riding in 1983, when Nunavut was still part of the N.W.T. He served two terms as MLA, also serving on the executive council and holding portfolios of culture and communications, renewable resources, and the status of women. He was named Speaker in 1987 and held that role until 1989.
In a statement, the current N.W.T. Speaker, Shane Thompson, called Red Pedersen "a beacon of hope and strength."
"Red's life was one of service, love, and humility. His passing leaves a tremendous void, but his legacy will continue in the lives he touched and the lessons he taught," Thompson said.
Flags at the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife were also lowered to half-mast to honour Pederson. His Speaker's portrait and robe were also displayed in the legislature building's Great Hall last week.
In his statement, Thompson recalled first meeting Red Pederson in 1987, at a hockey rink in Kugluktuk.
"It was clear from that first conversation that his passion was the people of the community—he truly considered them his family," Thompson said.
James Eetoolook, a KIA board member and currently the acting president of the association, knew Pedersen for more than 70 years. He recalled being nine years old when he joined his father and Pedersen on a dog-team trip to Gjoa Haven.
He said Pedersen was "just like another Inuk, to us."
"He was good man. I liked him," said Eetoolook. "He'd rather be with the Kitikmeot people than people back home or whatever, in Denmark or whatever."
Fred Pedersen described his father as someone who "was always ready and willing to help people."
"You know, starting with his family, but other people as well, everybody in the community and people that he knew. You know, if someone needed a ride, he'd offer to give a ride or whatever," Fred said.
Fred also recalled how, as an N.W.T. MLA in the 1980s, his father helped push for the creation of Nunavut.
"He wanted to ensure that, you know, Inuit were able to control the territory," Fred said.
More than anything, though, Red was a "family guy," his son recalled. Red had six children — two of them now deceased — and a total of 108 descendants, Fred said.
"I've learned that from him that, you know, family's important. Work life is also important, but you need a balance and you need to ensure that, you know, you keep your family life number one," Fred said.
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