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 serve ...

, Northwest Territories, from Gwich'in

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

, 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 ( ja, 札幌1972), was a winter multi-sport event held from February 3 to 13, 1972, in Sapporo, Japan. It was the first Winter Olympic Games to take place outside Euro ...

and a former territorial-level politician from Northwest Territories,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

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, 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 than ...

. He defeated future Commissioner

Glenna Hansen Glenna F. Hansen (born August 10, 1956) is an Inuvialuit 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 jo ...

to win the new Inuvik Twin Lakes 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 one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

. He swore an affidavit that he lived in a residence just outside Inuvik, Northwest Territories to gain access to the ''Capital Housing Allowance'' granting him $25,000 a year for residence in

Yellowknife Yellowknife (; Dogrib: ) is the capital, largest community, and 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 ...

. 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 Canadian legislators 21st-century Canadian legislators Canadian male cross-country skiers Cross-country skiers at the 1972 Winter Olympics First Nations sportspeople Gwich'in people Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories Olympic cross-country skiers for Canada People from Inuvik Canadian sportsperson-politicians