Paul Irngaut prioritizes elders, hunters and housing in NTI presidential bid

Nunatsiaq News is publishing profiles of the 10 candidates in Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s May 27 presidential byelection.

In his bid to ascend to the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. presidency, Paul Irngaut is prioritizing elders’ and hunters’ benefits, as well as advancing the organization’s role in housing.

“I feel that I can be effective and make changes for Inuit when it comes to discussions that affect them in the North,” Irngaut, 66, said in an interview Monday.

Irngaut first started at NTI in 2000. He worked in the organization’s wildlife and communications departments and as a liaison with the executive. In 2022, he was elected vice-president.

He has been acting president since December last year, when Jeremy Tunraluk went on leave and resigned as president a month later, triggering the May 27 byelection.

Irngaut — who grew up in Igloolik but has spent the last three decades in Iqaluit — was also a TV reporter for CBC News for 10 years.

As part of his presidential campaign, Irngaut is promising reviews every five years of who is eligible and how much money NTI provides to elders as part of the Uqqujjait Innarnut pension program.

During the board’s meeting in March of this year, the program was expanded to elders born on or before Dec. 31, 1961. The monthly payout to recipients was increased to $250.

Irngaut is also calling to increase funding for hunters, which NTI pays the three regional Inuit organizations in Nunavut to administer.

“If you really look at it, the hunters provide a lot of [food] for the communities, and they’re not getting paid,” Irngaut said. “The support that we provide for them has to increase with the cost of living in the North.”

Irngaut also envisions expanding NTI’s role in building and providing affordable housing through Igluvut Corp., the not-for-profit housing entity it established last year.

“If we built the houses and we start renting it to [Inuit] at a much lower rate, they can keep their jobs, and that incentive is that they will work, they will contribute,” Irngaut said. “If people can start at a lower rent, and in the future start owning their homes, it can only benefit Inuit in the future.”

Irngaut acknowledges that there are 10 “very good candidates” in the race.

He says what sets him apart is his experience with NTI along with his record of successful collaboration with the Government of Nunavut, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the federal government.

If Irngaut does not win this byelection, he says he will return to the vice-president role until that term ends in December.

“I’ve always worked for Inuit and I will always work for Inuit,” Irngaut said. “People should understand that I have the best interests at heart.”