Inuit land claim bosses pick Nancy Karetak-Lindell for ICC-Canada

Nancy Karetak-Lindell in her home community of Arviat in 2013, when she served as returning officer for the constituency of Arviat North-Whale Cove. (FILE PHOTO)

Duane Smith, the former president of Inuit Circumpolar Council-Canada, at a circumpolar gathering on mental health organized by the Arctic Council in Iqaluit last year. Smith, who is now chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corp., has been replaced by former Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell. (FILE PHOTO)

The heads of Canada’s four regional land claim organizations have chosen former Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell to serve as president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council’s Canadian wing.

“Ms. Karetak-Lindell said she was honoured to have been given the confidence of the Inuit leaders who represent the four Inuit land claims organizations in Canada,” said an ICC-Canada news release issued mid-evening April 8.

Karetak-Lindell was first elected MP for the newly-created federal riding in Nunavut on June 2, 1997.

She was re-elected easily in the 2000, 2004 and 2006 federal elections. But in December 2006 she announced that term would be her last and she did not contest the 2008 election.

Since then, she has served as director of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship with the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation and chief returning officer for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Elections Nunavut.

At ICC-Canada, Karetak-Lindell succeeds Duane Smith, who was chosen chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. at a meeting in Inuvik this past January, when he replaced veteran politician Nellie Cournoyea.

Smith, who held the ICC-Canada position for four terms, will continue to sit on ICC-Canada’s board, as well as on the board that runs Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

Karetak-Lindell will hold the ICC-Canada position until July 2018, just prior to the next ICC general assembly set for Barrow, Alaska.