Nunavik’s youth association faces uncertain future

KUUJJUAQ — This week the members of the board of Makivik Corp. are meeting in the Ungava Bay community of Tasiujaq

Among the items on their agenda: the future of Saputiit, Nunavik’s crippled youth association.

Although more than seven in 10 Nunavik residents are under the age of 35, the Saputiit youth association is still struggling to get on its feet more than 18 months after the election of its new president, Elisapie Annahatak, in 2011.

The organization is broke and still lacks a board of directors.

In November 2011, Annahatak beat the former president, Jonathan Epoo, in an election whose results he then contested.

Since then, bogged down with what Annahatak has called “discrepancies” discovered in the organization’s finances after she took over and an exodus of board members, have left Saputiit unable to focus on little more than straightening out the situation.

A planned election for new board members was postponed and then cancelled.

And now, without any new board on the horizon, Makivik will consider taking Saputiit, which used to fall under the authority of the land claims body, back under its wing.

“Something” must be done about Saputiit, said the Kativik Regional Government chairperson, Maggie Emudluk, speaking Feb. 25 on the opening day of this week’s meeting of the Kativik Regional Council in Kuujjjuaq.

If Makivik decides not to take on Saputiit, the KRG will consider its options, she said.

One way or another, “we will need to do something,” Emudluk said.