2 vie for Kitikmeot Inuit Association VP position
Gjoa Haven’s Raymond Quqshuun Sr. challenging incumbent Bob Aknavigak for vice-president of social and cultural development
The Kitikmeot Inuit Association, seen here through its office in Cambridge Bay, is holding elections for president, vice-president of social and cultural development, as well as for board member positions in Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Kugaaruk. Election day is Dec. 12. (Photo by Dustin Patar)
Leading up to the Dec. 12 elections for Nunavut’s regional Inuit associations, Nunatsiaq News will publish profiles of candidates vying for the executive positions on each association’s board of directors.
A prolific volunteer and corporate director for the Nunavut Water Board is challenging incumbent Bob Aknavigak for his seat as vice-president of social and cultural development for the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.
Raymond Quqshuun Sr. lives in Gjoa Haven, and has a long list of professional and volunteer experience, according to his profile on the Nunavut Water Board’s webpage.
According to his corporate profile, Quqshuun has worked for the Northwest Territories’ Department of Education in “various teaching capacities,” worked as a manager for Gjoa Haven’s housing association, and spent more than 20 years with the Hamlet of Gjoa Haven as its senior executive officer and finance accountant.
He has chaired Nunavut’s liquor licensing board and volunteered with Gjoa Haven’s education board and housing board.
Quqshuun was not available for an interview by press time, but he did provide Nunatsiaq News with a written list of priorities if he were to be elected to the role.
He said he would focus on good leadership; promoting and protecting Inuit heritage, language and culture; community wellness and development; and ensuring accountability.
He also said he wants to see the Kitikmeot Inuit Association act as a liaison between the Inuit of the Kitikmeot region and the government, in an effort to alleviate housing issues and to offer more resources for people to address social, physical and mental health issues.
Bob Aknavigak is the current vice-president of social and cultural development. He was acclaimed in 2019.
Aknavigak did not respond to requests for an interview, but he listed his priorities for the position on his Facebook page.
“I will concentrate my efforts on food insecurity, poverty, housing, health, Gray’s Bay Road and port and benefits for our beneficiaries,” he said in the post.
“And of course the most important, suicide.”
The association’s department of social and cultural development is responsible for managing and developing programs and services that support Inuit culture, language and wellness.
The vice-president of social and cultural development serves a term of four years.
Kitikmeot Inuit who are Canadian citizens, 16 years of age or older, and enrolled or eligible to enrol under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement can vote in the Dec. 12 election.
Looks like more men want some free holidays and toys!!
Kitikmeot really needs to start helping Inuit in their communities, PLUS the federal government isn’t really helping natives of CANADA right now. NUNAVUT needs more or as much HELP as the REFUGEES that our liberal federal government is only thinking of itself, and not their fellow indigenous/Inuit peoples.
We the beneficiaries will lose big time no matter. Our Kia is still trying to influence our people to go for the Chinese owned greys bay road and port ! Never mind the environment and animals. Our so called incumbents only are in it for the moneys
Not for the people but more for the profit of the organization so they can be shovel ready to start on the road. Nunavut lands are and always have been mostly Chinese owned ! And the biggest metal deposits in the world are in Izok lake where they want a road to from greys bay and NOT anywhere close to any Nunavut community ! The road will be used only for shipping out metal concentrates just like baffinland iron ore mine. They will still need to expand as well just like Baffinland is trying. And they won stop ! Until all Nunavut lands are destroyed and exploited and we beneficiaries are stuck with the aftermath of the destruction afterwards .
Kugluktuk is off the charts … for any political incumbents …that is. We are the outsider community within all of Nunavut and should have been in the NWT side with the Coppermine river shed.