3 candidates vie for Makivvik Corp. presidency
Election in Nunavik set for Feb. 1, advance polls will be open Jan. 25
Three candidates will compete to become president of Makivvik Corp. in the upcoming Feb. 1 election. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Three candidates are vying to be president of Makivvik Corp. in its upcoming election.
Makivvik, the corporation created to represent Inuit in Nunavik, released the official list of names late Friday on its website.
The candidates for president are incumbent Pita Aatami and challengers Suzy Kauki and Harry Tulugak. In the last election in 2021, Aatami was elected to a three-year term.
For this election, candidates had to meet a list of criteria set out by Makivvik in order to be eligible to run for president.
That included collecting 10 signatures from Nunavimmiut and three signatures from Makivvik directors attesting to that candidate’s fluency in Inuktitut, a bar that would-be candidate Jason Etok told Nunatsiaq News earlier this week was too high.
The election for all Nunavik communities will be held Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Advance polls will be open Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Eligible voters will have the opportunity to either vote online or in person.
Fluency assessed by Directors. Too vague and can’t rule out favoritism or spite, just the word of someone. Joke of an assessment “system”.
Why does it always seem like the same people applying, does there no one else in Nunavik except for Harry, Pita, and Charlie (Suzy)? You would think there would be some extensive requirements for this role other than signatures and language test. Running a corporation administrating Inuit lands and handling over CA$120 million in compensation funds. Better start learning your Inuktitut kids!
Rest assured that I have filed a claim with Government officials. This is an outrage! They will become a laughing stock, kinda like when the Liberals pushing Climate Change via Carbon Tax and then using the worst aircraft in the world for pollution and noise abatement laws. I love my heritage but it’s ancient ways have to Modernize. Nakurmik
Good evening Jason.
What do you mean by ancient ways ? I posted the following in another article:
“As an Inuk who was raised South, I 100% agree that these positions should be reserved to a pool of candidates that are fluent in Inuktitut. Language is the epicenter of culture. I only have a basic knowledge of Inuktitut (not by choice) and that makes me miss out on 95% of Inuit cultural cues and ways of knowing. Keep Nunavik strong, require our leaders to speak Inuktitut ! We live in a day of information, there are many ways to learn inuktitut, the rest of us can learn it ! ”
Nunavik has the highest level of households that speak their indigenous tongue as a mother tongue. Embedding any changes to language requirements at that level would only negatively impact the current levels of Inuktitut fluency. It’s inevitable. Embedding Inuktitut as a requirement at all levels of higher management/leadership is a must in my opinion. For example, do you think Quebeckers would ever accept a Prime Minister who doesn’t speak French ? Or do you think Canadians would ever accept a Prime Minister that doesn’t speak English ? I need to understand where you are coming from with this ? It’s not to say that Nunavik leadership should based be on many factors and requirements, but Inuktitut is a non-negotiable in my opinion. Please enlighten me.
Just because they speak inutitut doesn’t mean they have the best interests of inuit in their hearts. We’ve never had any Inuttitut non-speaking candidates anyways so your point is worthless here.
That would just restrict fvery capable candidates from running for positions, for that matter.
Can They read fast as they can speak?
Maybe we can call for no vote?
Latin is an ancient language, Inuktitut is the most advanced modern language world have ever existed, in fact if the whole world learn and speak Inuktitut I am 100% sure world would be a better place, remember, Inuit means humans!
what is the real test for languge? How is it applied? It might be very basic such as know you syllabics. Like who is going to do one hour test? Not many. Yeah on way is it always the same people. A real change could be very healthy.
We really need new leadership, doesn’t matter if they have experience or not. It’s time for the people to be listened to, instead of trying to be run and operated. A fresh face would be less sensitive and willing to help on a personal level, human to human.
Too much looking into their wallets and power these days. Regular, everyday beneficiaries should run next time, PLEASE!
Is it time to cash in the bonuses before February 1 for the big boys?
Nice to see the same old crew is hanging around for a new election…
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Let’s just give it to Pete, so he can be president again and get his bonuses again…
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We’re wasting money having elections when everything ends up restricted to the same candidates over and over again. There’s something really wrong with our elections!
The person that wanted to bring booze and crack to Nunavik by ivakkaq he’ll yeah that you were not eligible
You would have made Nunavik go backwards