The KIA Honors the Late Asger “Red” Pedersen

Anyone walking by the KIA Cambridge Bay Office this past week may have noticed that our flags are flying at half mast. This has been done out of respect for and in memory of the late Asger “Red” Pedersen (father of current KIA Executive Director Fred Pedersen) who passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025. Red, born in Denmark in 1935, came to the Arctic with the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1953 and left a permanent, positive mark on the North.

Red represented the Kitikmeot West during the 10th and 11th Assemblies after being first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1983.

Red led a life dedicated to improving the North and the Kitikmeot as an elected representative, a volunteer (including with the Boy Scouts and Canadian Rangers), served as an area administrator for several communities including Kugluktuk – where he played a key role in the organizing that community’s first settlement council. Red was made the first honorary lifetime Member of the KIA in 2003 and is also a Member of the Orders of Nunavut and Canada.

Perhaps the greatest compliment to this incredible individual was that he was given the honorary title of “Inuk” despite being a Dane by birth.

On behalf of the entire KIA family and all those who call the Kitikmeot their home, thank you Red for your incredible service and dedication that led to a better North because of you.