Congratulations to Paul Okalik
I’m very proud of Paul Okalik achieving his dream of becoming a lawyer. I’ve known Paul since he joined the negotiating team of the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut, when I was a chief negotiator.
I’m especially proud that he overcame his emotional pitfalls. Many people will never realize how stressful negotiating an aboriginal claim can be on an individual and an Inuk. Not only are you representing your people’s interest, but you yourself have a vested interest; you are personally affected by the outcome of the final agreement.
Federal and territorial negotiators never had that much stress, because they represented a department, agency or their boss’s interests. Inuit negotiators had to or have to live with the consequences of what kind of deal we made for our fellow Inuit. Because of our small population, we knew many of the benfactors personally, or had acquaintance with them.
We had to develop a hard shell in order to protect ourselves from criticisms that come with the job.
I’m sure all the former negotiators from the past TFN or NTI join me in congratulating Paul in achieving his dream and proving that there is life after negotiations.
Allen Maghagak
Cambridge Bay
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