About the Member

Krista Carnogursky was appointed as the Acting Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories (NWT) by the Legislative Assembly effective January 10, 2025, for a term of four years. She currently holds a dual statutory appointment and is also the Ombud of the NWT.

The NWT is unique in that it recognizes 11 official languages: English, French and nine Indigenous languages: Chipewyan, Cree, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, and Tłı̨chǫ.

Krista was born in Inuvik, NWT and is of Indigenous descent. She attended post-secondary school and obtained a Diploma in Correctional Services, a Degree in Criminal Justice and is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Justice Studies.

Krista previously worked in the Public Service for 18 years and began with the Department of Justice where she worked at the North Slave Young Offenders Facility; as a Probation Officer; and then a senior Probation Officer and obtained experience with conducting interviews, interpreting legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures, and drafting reports and recommendations. Next as the Manager of Diversity and Inclusion within the Department of Finance, she was responsible for developing and evaluating comprehensive GNWT wide diversity and inclusion strategies, initiatives and programs, in addition to identifying and making recommendations to address systemic barriers within the public service.

“My grandmother was one of the first to translate the news over the radio in Gwich’in, so to now be in a position where I can work to ensure the rights, privileges, and status of each Official Language are respected and protected, is one I am truly invested in achieving”.

About the Member's Office

The Northwest Territories has eleven Official Languages including English, French and nine Aboriginal Languages. The public has certain rights with respect to those languages when it comes to:

• communicating with the Legislative Assembly
• dealing with the courts
• receiving government services

The Official Languages Act applies to all institutions of the Legislative Assembly and GNWT departments, corporations, boards and agencies. The Act does not apply to municipal governments or private industry.

The Languages Commissioner can investigate any allegation that the Official Languages Act has been violated. The Languages Commissioner can also initiate an investigation in the absence of a complaint.

Following an investigation, the Languages Commissioner can make recommendations to the Deputy Head of the department or agency in question. The Languages Commissioner can report the matter to the Legislative Assembly if a government department or agency does not respond to the recommendations, or if the Languages Commissioner feels the government department or agency has not taken adequate steps to address the issues in question.