‘Better than doing nothing’: Beneficiaries vote for NTI president

It was busy at the Iqaluit cadet hall Wednesday morning as dozens of Inuit beneficiaries stopped by to cast a ballot in the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s presidential byelection.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. offers $100 vouchers to all eligible voters who show up to a polling station in the 2026 presidential byelection. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)

“I voted because I believe I should do something,” said 25-year-old Jeremy Young. “It’s better than doing nothing, even if I believe it won’t change anything.”

NTI – the organization responsible for ensuring commitments under the Nunavut Agreement are kept – called the byelection earlier this year after Jeremy Tunraluk resigned in January, a little more than a year into his term.

There are 10 candidates running in the byelection.

Young said he cast a ballot for former Clyde River mayor Jerry Natanine.

“I like his policies the most,” he said.

But Young says he, like many Nunavut beneficiaries, is feeling “skeptical” about whether the election will bring any change, so the promise of a $100 voucher became the “main reason” for him to take part in this election.

“Even a small material incentive like this works pretty good,” he said.

NTI is offering $100 vouchers to all eligible voters who show up at the polls as a way to encourage participation.

The organization first rolled out the incentive for its presidential election in 2024. That raised voter turnout to 66.7 per cent, compared to 17.5 per cent in the 2021 presidential election, when no vouchers were handed out.

The initiative worked on 27-year-old Joanasie Papatsie.

“I mostly just came here for the gift card, I guess,” he said. “Not really sure where each of the NTI [candidates] stand right now. I sort of just put down a random name.”

It wasn’t the voucher that spurred 26-year-old Kolola Akulukjuk to vote in what he called the election of “change.”

“I heard candidates saying we need to make changes – hopefully it’s true,” he said. “So I vote and try to make a difference.”

Polling stations are open in each Nunavut community until 7 p.m. local time.

Click here to read profiles of each candidate.