Remembering Asger 'Red' Pedersen, former N.W.T. MLA and 'honourary Inuk'

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 11, 2025 5:17 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

The precocious Asger "Red" Pedersen had a fig of feathers successful his cap, arsenic a twice-elected MLA, erstwhile furniture curate and Speaker of the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly, erstwhile politician of Kugluktuk, Nunavut, and arsenic a subordinate of some the Order of Nunavut and the Order of Canada.

But according to his son, determination was 1 rubric that meant much to Pedersen than immoderate other: "honourary Inuk."

"You know, those were his peers erstwhile helium grew up present successful the North. And helium lived retired connected the onshore with galore Inuit and worked with Inuit," said Fred Pedersen.

"He thought that was a large honour."

That rubric was bestowed upon Red Pedersen, who died connected May 30 astatine the property of 89, by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA), which had besides made him an honourary beingness member. 

Flags astatine the KIA bureau successful Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, were flying astatine half-mast aft his death, retired of respect for an "incredible individual" who near a "permanent, affirmative people connected the North," according to a quality merchandise from KIA on Monday.

Red Pedersen was calved successful Denmark and came to the Canadian North astatine the property of 17 to enactment for the Hudson's Bay Company. He then spent most of the remainder of his beingness successful the North, successful antithetic parts of the N.W.T. and Nunavut, and besides moved southbound for periods of clip to beryllium person to immoderate of his children. But Fred Pedersen — who's present the enforcement manager of the KIA — says his father would ever instrumentality to Kugluktuk.

"That was location for him, and that's wherever helium felt astir comfortable," Fred Pedersen said. 

"He archetypal came up to the Arctic 72 years ago. So, you know, that was backmost successful the [time of] canine teams and igloos and tents and things similar that. So you know, erstwhile you're surviving successful the Arctic backmost then, I deliberation you person to beryllium an outdoorsy person."

Pedersen was archetypal elected MLA for the Kitikmeot West riding successful 1983, erstwhile Nunavut was inactive portion of the N.W.T. He served 2 presumption arsenic MLA, besides serving connected the enforcement assembly and holding portfolios of civilization and communications, renewable resources, and the presumption of women. He was named Speaker successful 1987 and held that relation until 1989.

In a statement, the existent N.W.T. Speaker, Shane Thompson, called Red Pedersen "a beacon of anticipation and strength."

"Red's beingness was 1 of service, love, and humility. His passing leaves a tremendous void, but his bequest volition proceed successful the lives helium touched and the lessons helium taught," Thompson said.

Flags astatine the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly successful Yellowknife were besides lowered to half-mast to honour Pederson. His Speaker's representation and robe were besides displayed successful the legislature building's Great Hall past week.

In his statement, Thompson recalled archetypal gathering Red Pederson successful 1987, astatine a hockey rink successful Kugluktuk.

"It was wide from that archetypal speech that his passionateness was the radical of the community—he genuinely considered them his family," Thompson said.

James Eetoolook, a KIA committee subordinate and currently the acting president of the association, knew Pedersen for much than 70 years. He recalled being 9 years aged erstwhile helium joined his begetter and Pedersen connected a dog-team travel to Gjoa Haven.

He said Pedersen was "just similar different Inuk, to us."

"He was bully man. I liked him," said Eetoolook. "He'd alternatively beryllium with the Kitikmeot radical than radical backmost location oregon whatever, successful Denmark oregon whatever."

Fred Pedersen described his begetter arsenic idiosyncratic who "was ever acceptable and consenting to assistance people."

"You know, starting with his family, but other radical arsenic well, everybody successful the assemblage and radical that helium knew. You know, if idiosyncratic needed a ride, he'd connection to springiness a thrust oregon whatever," Fred said.

Fred besides recalled how, arsenic an N.W.T. MLA successful the 1980s, his begetter helped propulsion for the instauration of Nunavut. 

"He wanted to guarantee that, you know, Inuit were capable to power the territory," Fred said.  

More than anything, though, Red was a "family guy," his lad recalled. Red had six children — 2 of them present deceased — and a full of 108 descendants, Fred said.

"I've learned that from him that, you know, family's important. Work beingness is besides important, but you request a equilibrium and you request to guarantee that, you know, you support your household beingness fig one," Fred said.