Red Pedersen

Asger Rye "Red" Pedersen CM ONu (sometimes Asgar Rye Pederson, 1935 – May 30, 2025) was a Canadian politician. In 1953, he got a job in the Canadian Arctic with the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) at Cambridge Bay, Nunavut (then the Northwest Territories). In the following year, he was sent to Perry River (Kuugjuak) to assist Stephen Angulalik, the Ahiarmiut Inuk owner of the trading post, with he financial records, inventory and ordering, as Angulalik spoke no English. In 1957, Angulalik sold the Perry River post to the HBC and Pedersen was appointed manager. Angulalik returned to the post after resolving legal problems and worked alongside Pedersen; they became lifelong friends.^[2][3][4][5] He was, at one time, married to Lena Pedersen and their grandson, Calvin Pedersen was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut in July 2020.^[6][7] Pedersen died on May 30, 2025.^[8]

Red Pedersen CM ONu
Pedersen awarded the Order of Nunavut in 2021
Mayor of Kugluktuk
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2014
Preceded by	Ernie Bernhardt
Succeeded by	Ryan Nivingalok[1]
MLA for Kitikmeot West
In office 1983–1991
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	Riding dissolved
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
In office 1987–1989
Preceded by	Donald Morton Stewart
Succeeded by	Richard Nerysoo
Personal details
Born	1935 (1935) Denmark
Died	May 30, 2025(2025-05-30) (aged 89–90)
Political party	Non-partisan consensus government
Residence	Kugluktuk
Military service
Allegiance	Canada
Branch/service	Canadian Army
Years of service	1960–?
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	Canadian Rangers: 1CRPG

Public service

Ten years later, Pedersen became an area administrator for the Canadian government in Coppermine (Kugluktuk), Pangnirtung and Fort Rae (Behchokǫ̀). From 1983 to 1991, he was a member of the Northwest Territories Legislature. Pedersen was first elected to the Northwest Territories Legislature in the 1983 Northwest Territories general election, winning the Kitikmeot West electoral district. He was re-elected in the 1987 Northwest Territories general election. Pedersen was elected Speaker of the Assembly on November 12, 1987, and served that role until October 18, 1989.^[9]

In 2001, he was one of three members of the Legislative Assembly of the NWT's "Independent Commission on Members Compensation". Pedersen was a Board Member and Chairperson of the Independent Environmental Monitoring Agency until his retirement in 2003.^[10][11] He was made an honourary Inuk in 2003.^[12]

Pedersen retired from the Canadian Rangers, but his son and grandson continue the tradition.^[13][14]

In December 2013, Pedersen was acclaimed as mayor of Kugluktuk.^[15] In 2016, Pedersen was made a member of the Order of Nunavut.^[16] He was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2021.^[17]