Nunavut premier responds to sex charges against teachers

One of the two teachers now facing sex charges works at Aqsarniit Middle School in Iqaluit. That teacher, a man, was suspended, with pay, following his arrest last month. He appears April 12 at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

With two Nunavut teachers, one in Iqaluit, another in Kimmirut, recently charged with sex crimes, Nunavut’s education minister — and premier — Eva Aariak issued a statement April 9.

Aariak did not acknowledge the nature of the allegations of inappropriate conduct by the two teachers, which include sexual interference, sexual assault and sexual exploitation, but called the charges “serious.”

“I am deeply concerned when serious charges are laid against Nunavut teachers. The trust between schools and the community and between parents and teachers is of the utmost importance to everyone. Equally important is the trust that exists between teachers and their students,” she said.

“I understand that this trust has been shaken. I want to assure Nunavummiut that the Department of Education is doing all that it can to assist the police with their investigation and to support the members of the school communities.

“Staff members involved are immediately suspended while the allegations are being investigated.”

While that’s happening, Aariak said “we must allow the RCMP to do their work.”

“Neither the department, nor the schools in question, can comment on the charges,” she said.

Paul Mooney, the superintendent of the Qikiqtani School Operations, recently told Nunatsiaq News he learned that the Iqaluit teacher had been charged with sexual interference only after hearing the news from the RCMP.

But Mooney said that he could not identify the teacher or school and that he could not comment more on the situation of the accused teacher because there’s “an interest in protecting the employees.”

However, he did say that, in similar circumstances, when similar allegations are made against a teacher, the teacher is put on paid leave until the end of the court process.

It’s paid leave because the suspension is “not a disciplinary action.”

Aariak said Nunavut’s education department “has a number of procedures in place to help provide a safe learning environment.”

“When these types of situations occur, we review these procedures to ensure that they have been followed appropriately and that we are doing all that we can. We also look to make improvements whenever and wherever possible,” Aariak said.

“As we move forward, the department will work closely with parents, schools and district education authorities to rebuild confidence in the important work our teachers do.”

A third Nunavut teacher, Johnny Meeko, a retired teacher from Sanikiluaq, faces 40 charges alleging sex crimes with children.

All the offences are alleged to have occurred at Nuiyak Elementary School in Sanikiluaq between 1984 and 2006.

Meeko returns to court July 15 in Sanikiluaq for his preliminary hearing.