Aluki Kotierk has been announced the unofficial winner of the NTI presidential election, with 69 per cent of the votes. (Photo courtesy of Aluki Kotierk)
NTI president Aluki Kotierk says she will focus on basic needs of Inuit
“To have big vision, you also need to understand there are building blocks to achieve that vision,” says Kotierk in re-election bid
To provide information to eligible Inuit voters, Nunatsiaq News is publishing profiles of the two candidates contesting the presidency of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. this Feb. 8.
Aluki Kotierk, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., says that finding practical ways to meet the basic needs of Inuit will be one of her big priorities if she’s re-elected to a second term this Feb. 8.
“When we find ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic, it’s very apparent, and it’s been said for many years by many people, that there’s a housing crisis, that there’s food insecurity, that there’s an infrastructure gap,” she told Nunatsiaq News.
“I’m running because I just want to continue the work that I started over the last four years and I want another four years to push for the files that I had started,” Kotierk said.
“So I think it makes sense to make it a two-term kind of position.”
Basic needs
Over the past year, Kotierk said she began to focus on addressing the basic social and economic needs of Inuit in Nunavut, and the obvious inequities that Inuit face in housing, employment, education, health care and other areas.
And that means finding practical ways of fixing those problems.
“I looked at that and said we do want to get to a point where Inuit are able to enjoy the same standard of living as other Canadians. But what path do we take? Because so many people have made reference to it, but nothing has been done in a concerted, cohesive manner.”
That’s why, last October, NTI produced its 259-page report on Nunavut’s infrastructure gap.
That report highlighted the numerous glaring inequities between Nunavut and the rest of Canada, such as poor internet, overcrowded housing and poor access to health care.
At that time, Kotierk said Nunavut Inuit are not asking for special treatment — they only want the same infrastructure and services that southern Canadians take for granted.
If re-elected, she wants to use her second term to find practical policies for fixing those problems.
“I think that [the infrastructure gap report] was a practical way to say, OK, we made reference to the infrastructure gap, now we need to start quantifying that,” she said.
Kotierk also said it’s important to put a human face on all those inequities.
“We need to say this is how it is impacting negatively on Canadian Inuit who are trying to straddle both worlds of continuing to be proud of being Inuk, and having a good foundation in the Inuit language and Inuit culture, and also participate in the modern Canadian society,” she said.
“Just a blip in history”
In her first term, Kotierk led a long, passionate campaign to assert and defend Inuit language rights.
That included a fierce critique of the federal government’s Indigenous Languages Act, passed in 2019, and persistent work opposing the Nunavut government’s two attempts to amend the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act: Bill 37 and Bill 25.
Despite NTI’s opposition, MLAs voted unanimously for Bill 25.
But Kotierk does not see that as a defeat.
“To me the fact that the MLAs have unanimously passed that legislation, currently, is just a blip in history,” she said.
So she said it’s important to work in a practical manner to realize the dreams of Inuit.
“I think as Inuit, and I often say this, we are practical dreamers and have the sense that you need to have aspirational goals. To have big vision, you also need to understand there are building blocks to achieve that vision.”
But language is still at the heart of Inuit self-determination.
“Each time we utter anything in Inuktitut, we assert our self-determination. Because we are saying we are still here, our language still exists, our culture continues to thrive.”
Kotierk is running against one other candidate, Andrew Nakashuk of Pangnirtung.
To be eligible to cast a ballot in the NTI presidential election, a voter must have been 16 or older as of Dec. 14, 2020 and enrolled as an Inuk under the Nunavut Agreement.
Voters may cast ballots during an advance poll scheduled for Feb. 1. They may also cast ballots by mobile poll, proxy vote or mail-in ballot.
The message here seems to come down to this:
1. I want to find practical solutions to problems
2. I want to continue the work I began
We should ask, what practical solutions have you come up with in your previous term? What work is it that you began that has seen any kind of result? Speaking about broad issues is fine, but anyone can do that. You’ve had the power to do something over your last term. What did you do? Touting another report doesn’t seem like a whole lot, honestly. I’m surprised at the huge gaps in the message is here.
In the last 4 years, Aluki has ran NTI without a scandel. She has cleaned up and is well respected by all within.
Can the same be said about Andrew and his roles as Chair and Vice Chair to NPC and QEC? NPC’s main role had been to develop a land use plan and they haven’t done so since 1996. Their last draft plan was rejected by both government and Inuit organizations alike. Because he failed to consult! A requirement of the land claim.
QEC has recently had some of it’s delegations revoked. They nolonger are able to oversee their many of their own HR functions which they had been doing since the creation of the Coropration. You tell me if he is doing a good job in either role. To me, claiming to be in a leadership role in either is nothing to brag about.
Interesting, so your message seems to be:
Aluki didn’t have any scandals, and that is a notable accomplishment.
Andrew is probably not that competent, given his record with the Nunavut planning commission.
It seems we have a feast of mediocrity on our hands. How sad is this?
Here is her platform from the 2016 election campaign. Did she achieve any of her goals? I am just curious, I do not follow much of NTIs progress and should really do so as an Inuk and beneficiary of Nunavut.
https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/65674candidate_for_nunavut_tunngavik_inc._president_aluki_kotierk/
Aluki, what have you done for language other then a December 2018 laptop paper from Iqaluit to Ottawa where it read let Inuinnaqtun die a natural death?
Aluki actively stood up to the GN while they destroyed any hope of Inuit language survival with Bill 25. She strongly opposed the Bill by writing to the GN and in the media. NTI offered to pay for Inuit teacher training and the GN turned it down. Yes!!!! How horrific!
The Bill was fully supported by all in the Legislature. A very sad day in NU history.
She met with the GN many times on this issue and brough the GN education Minister to the NTI Board to try and persuade them to do better so that Inuit language would be taught to our children in our schools.
She also implemented Inuit Lang support for all NTI staff so that NTI could actively move forward with making Inuktiut the working language at NTI.
what NTI does for communities? what is your role? how does the majority of inuit benefit?
most of the Inuit are that are benefiting are working for Inuit Organizations, NTI, Kit IA, Kiv IA, QIA ,most of those working for these organizations are travelling, what good they bring back to communities? what good they bring back to beneficiaries. Collecting aeroplan points, receving money back from rental cars, hotels, etc. collecting honaria and perdiem per day, how much is that? for how long?
You know what ALL organizations needs? the Auditor General to audit NTI, Kit IA, KIV IT and QIA.
Absolutely true A.C. !
It is our own fault, because us Inuit keep voting for the same incompetent people, time
after time.
Some people have suggested getting resident white people to help us, but the ones I know
say ” NO WAY” because they will be blamed for the mistakes of previous years.
It is the beneficiaries money, when do we get our share ?
Our own leaders have failed us miserably over the years, and lining their own pockets.
At this point, languacan no longer be the “Heart of Inuit Self Determination”. The Language is no longer Inuktitut I grew up speaking. It is simplified so as many people can “learn” Inuktitut. Our culture has to be a the heart of our self determination. Culture includes language but speak to elders and ask what it is. Inuktitut does not have paippaa, it’s alijajuq. RCMP are not puliisi, they’re pukiktalii.
Practical manner? Practical does not make decisions without understanding what the decision is for and then blame others for not fully understanding what the decision made was for. Own mistakes and ask for that the people you represent forgive.
I will be voting on Feb 8 and I hope Nunavut has a large voter turnout. I also hope the people voting do not go with a popularity vote but with the each candidate is going for in their platforms. Popularity votes are not what anyone needs.
NTI has the funds and land to build low-income housing in every community. We can’t rely on the federal government to provide that any time soon.
Be pro-active and start building!
It’s not NTI’s role to build houses. As the president of NTI she has advocated to the federal government to ensure the promises made by the federal government are fulfilled. In this regard, she has actively and relentlessly pushed the federal government on housing and other issues.
We may not see the work that she has done behind the scenes as the money secured for these initiatives are funneled through the GN who has a full department with 1000s of employees to ensure that new houses are built and current units maintained.
If you think that the GN would have received funding from the feds without the active work of Aluki and her staff at NTI then you are mistaken.
It should be NTIs policy to be in housing. It has billions of dollars, construction companies, and builds commercial properties all the time.
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What NTI doesn’t want to do is build something non profit for the poor Inuit who have been left behind. What a surprise. No money in that? No go.
The issues of Inuit are practically the same year by year, with no real outcome from any politician, Aluki has done sweet f-all, time to dismantle this useless org.
NTI AND MP WHAT HAVE THEY DONE? NOTHING 0 ZIP WHY VOTE FOR THEM AGAIN!!!
Aluki pursuaded the feds to come up with the money to build an addiction and treatment centre in Nunavut.
Others have been talking about it for years but it was her who got it done. She also had NTI provide financial support for this project as well. Nobody else was able to get a commitment.
Have they driven even one nail yet?
Trust me, if NTI had spent even a dollar of the money they “committed” to this centre we would know.
Aluki and the elite Inuit who form NTI and various Regional orgs should really be questioned by the underclass of Inuit living in substandard conditions. From what I can tell her only talent is to be vocal and attempt to scream and holler at various levels of government to distract Inuit from NTI and her own lack of vision and accomplishments. I have lived in Iqaluit several years and have seen NTI do a few Bbqs and throw out some scholarships, pay for funeral travel etc but not a single building or program put funded or organized by NTI. It serves the elite like Aluki with high paying jobs and business opportunities but no one else. those Inuit who live and run NTI from the suburbs of Ottawa to really seem content keep the underclass where they are and the benefits to themselves. It really is a sad state of affairs. Inuit would be hard pressed to ask why has Aluki actually done? They’ll be hard pressed to find anything.
Even-thou she lives in Iqaluit, she hasn’t even visit our community. No respect – No vote
Seriously! There was a pandemic going on. Although she maybe humble she is one of the hardest workers ever! She may not be wasting money going on community visits doing photo ops she works long hours at the office every single day. Trust me, when she is there she is not sitting around yaking and drinking coffee all day. She is actually working!!!!
She is not there as a money grab. She actually got rid of the NTI vehicle and I often see her walking into the office early and leaving late in the evening. Can you say the same for other political leaders? Reducing their own bennefits like company vehicles etc!?
Not one single accomplishment is mentioned in this interview. It says a lot that she says she needs to find practical solutions to her goals. Almost like she is finally realizing that. So, why should she be reelected again?
She raised the pension for Inuit elders.
Aluki also got a federal contract policy with the federal government. This is significant in that it has been on hold since 1999.
It means preferential treatment for Inuit Buisnesses for generations to come.
This is huge!
As it was stated in the comments above, Aluki’s first term was mostly about Language preservation. I think the preservation of language to be very important, but what has actually improved in the last 4 years?
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A lot of awareness of how Bill 25 will destroy Inuktitut, but no real solutions. In fact, they introduced Tea Party Town Hall style theatrics to Nunavut. Most of the participants were paid NTI staff or very close allies.
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All of that effort, yet NTI was sleeping at the wheel when it came time to approve Bill 25, and only restarted their campaign once it was too late.
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NTI staff (all of whom have 6 figure salaries if you include the northern livimg allowance) are being put through expensive language classes.
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And then there was a lot of friends hiring friends.
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I hope Andrew Nakashuk becomes a better president than Aluki, but I’ve been so let down by NTI for years and years. I though Aluki was going to be the leader we needed after the dreadful Towtongie regime, but she turned out to be a disappointment.
Staff still make less than GN equivalent poistions and have more Inuit staff.
Aluki, you were a senior executive in the GN. Then you became president of NTI.
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You have an almost unique perspective. What needs to be done and who can do it?
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Sure the GN could pass a law requiring that everyone in Nunavut only speaks Inuktitut. But who is going to teach them? The GN could ust past a law requiring everyone in Canada to only speak Inuktitut. It would have just about the same effect.
The GN and NTI are both big on aspirational, but no one seems interested in applying themselves to the dayto-day needed to get from here to there.
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Why?
I think this is the real reason why North Baffin wants to create their own Designated Inuit Organization.
Not being listening to or paid attention to what they want.
Like all the commenters are saying, NTI and other DIO’s aren’t doing s-all
She has been holding the GN accountable. Pushing them on major issues. Language being just one of them. Many projects under the training organization that she set up will help Inuit looking for support to advance for years and years to come.
She restored the hunters support program as well.
Do you think Andrew will do the same with his wife as a Minister? Will he push back against the GN?
The Nunavut Planning Commission is a mess and Andrew is the Chair there. Did anyone even know that he was vice chair at QEC? Nobody until he mentioned it. Are these his full time jobs sitting on Boards or has he ever had director reports?
Aluki is a seasoned leader. Her work before and after NTI speaks for herself.
I know what a seasoned leader looks and act like, you see it and you feel it.
Not her, she is not a leader. Leaders don’t complain, they don’t get scared easily.
I know Aluki is fresh new face compared to the old Inuit leaders kept the status quo not really challenging Government of Nunavut and Canada. She has fought for language protection to stronger and Education Act to be more respectful towards Inuit needs and still battling it. She educated Inuk that we surely need, she speaks Inuktitut! She a fresh new face and a role module for young Inuit to become politically active. Takes a lot of guts to run for office put yourself out that what have we done to contribute to the betterment of our communities and fellow Inuit?
Although a fresh new face could be good and at times needed, not now. Especially after her first term. Because of a lack of understanding on her part, there has been instances where her decisions have hurt the Nunavut Territory and she went and put the blame on her staff, because her staff did not make her understand clearly. This was after she was asked if she is sure that she wants to go that route for funding. She was told it’s is based off of population and her request will hurt the Territory and will receive less funding. She went with her decision and when it was too late she realized what she did and put the blame onto others.
The language “she’s protecting” is a bastardised language of Inuktitut, it is not Inuktitut like you say. Our elders are having to adapt to today’s Inuktitut because it is easier to allow this “Inuktitut” than it is to make everyone understand the Iniktitut our elders grew up speaking. My Inuktitut is different from my elders but it more similar than a lot of “Inuktitut” speaking Inuit and Official Interpreters. I have learn to speak more similar to what my grandparents spoke and making easier for them to carry on a conversation. It hurts me hearing my elders having to use words like pulisi rather than pukiktalii and matuaq rather than kiinaqkaq.
There are a lot times an education has become a barrier. People tend to forget common sense and start relying too much on their education, even when it become their education will not help them.
Betterment of our communities and fellow Inuit, Governments, Territoral and Federal, can do a lot, NTI and Regional Inuit Organizations can do a lot but non of that matters unless the people themselves want to get better. Unfortunately, there are too many people who are happy where they are, despite being “unhappy”. People will not feel better unless they are getting free money, free money for them.
There are community advance polls running this week for the NTI presidency and the actual election next week and yet the newspaper is running her profile. Is this newspaper biased? There is another candidate running for this position also. Perhaps NunatsiaqNews should do an article on him too at the same time.
They said they were doing both. Andrew’s is up this morning.
Aluki, what have you done to open doors for Inuit? What is your plan to implement the NA so that my life changes? Get real…you threw the NA under the bus.