Roger T. Allen (born 5 May 1952 ) in

Aklavik Aklavik (Inuvialuktun: ''Akłarvik'') (from the Inuvialuktun meaning '' barrenground grizzly place'') is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Until 1961, with a population over 1,500, the community served ...

, Northwest Territories, from Gwich'in

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

, is a Canadian former cross-country skier who competed in the

1972 Winter Olympics The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially the and commonly known as Sapporo 1972 (), were a winter multi-sport event held from February 3 to 13, 1972, in Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. It was the first Winter Olympic Games to take place outside ...

and a former territorial-level politician from

Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories is a federal Provinces and territories of Canada, territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately and a 2021 census population of 41,070, it is the second-largest and the most populous of Provinces and territorie ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

Cross-country skiing

Allen was one of six of eight cross-country skiers sent to the 1972 Olympics who came from the Mackenzie Delta town of

Inuvik Inuvik (''place of man'') is the only town in the Inuvik Region, and the List of municipalities in the Northwest Territories, third largest community in Canada's Northwest Territories. Located in what is sometimes called the Beaufort Delta Re ...

, Northwest Territories. Allen finished 50th in the 15 km men's and 13th in the relay 4x10 men's races. Roger was part of the Territorial Experimental Ski Training Program at Grollier Hall (Residential School). Growing up, Allen was exposed to multiple sports in the parochial school system in Inuvik which helped him balance education, sport, and spirituality. After retiring from his Olympic career, Allen is now an MLA for the Territorial government, and a cabinet minister.

Politics

After retiring from his Olympic career, Allen became a MLA for the Territorial government, and a cabinet minister. Allen was first elected to the Northwest Territories Legislature in the

1999 Northwest Territories general election The 1999 Northwest Territories general election was held on December 6, 1999. This was the first election under the new boundaries that were created when Nunavut was carved out of the Northwest Territories. 19 members were elected, five fewer tha ...

. He defeated future Commissioner

Glenna Hansen Glenna F. Hansen (born August 10, 1956) is an Inuvialuk Canadian politician. She served as the commissioner of the Northwest Territories from March 31, 2000, to April 29, 2005. Early life Born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada, Hansen ...

to win the new

Inuvik Twin Lakes Inuvik Twin Lakes is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is one of two districts that represent Inuvik, alongside the district of Inuvik Boot Lake. The electoral districts were c ...

electoral district. Allen was re-elected in the

2003 Northwest Territories general election The 2003 Northwest Territories general election was held on November 24, 2003, to elect the 19 members of the Legislative Assembly. The election was called on October 27. Premier Stephen Kakfwi had previously chosen not to run. The territory op ...

defeating three other candidates with 55% of the vote. Allen became mired in a scandal after he was found to be living in a residence outside of the Northwest Territories in Grimshaw,

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

. He swore an affidavit that he lived in a residence just outside

to gain access to the ''Capital Housing Allowance'' granting him $25,000 a year for residence in

Yellowknife Yellowknife is the capital, largest community, and the only city in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, about south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of t ...

. Allen was forced to appear before a board of inquiry and forced to return $10,000 retroactive to April 1, 2004. He resigned his seat on October 12, 2004, citing family and personal issues as the reason for stepping down.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Roger 1952 births Living people 20th-century First Nations people 21st-century First Nations people 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories 21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories Canadian male cross-country skiers Cross-country skiers at the 1972 Winter Olympics First Nations sportspeople Olympic cross-country skiers for Canada People from Inuvik Canadian sportsperson-politicians 20th-century Canadian sportsmen Canadian Gwich'in people People from Aklavik