Inuit orgs congratulate federal election winners

Sophie Grégoire, the wife of Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau, with Trudeau, who holds his youngest child Hadrien, and Liberal candidate Hunter Tootoo at Iqaluit’s Rotary Park Oct. 10. Nine days later, Tootoo emerged as Nunavut’s next MP and Trudeau emerged as Canada’s next prime minister. (PHOTO BY STEVE DUCHARME)

(Updated Oct. 21, 6:20 p.m.)

In optimistic statements released Oct. 20, Inuit organizations have offered their congratulations to victorious federal candidates in Canada’s four Inuit regions.

P.J. Akeeagok, the president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, congratulated Nunavut’s MP-elect, Liberal Hunter Tootoo, who scored an easy victory Oct. 19 by taking 47.2 per cent of ballots cast.

‘’I am confident that Mr. Tootoo’s leadership and experience will influence positive changes for Nunavummiut. I look forward to working with Mr. Tootoo for the promotion and protection of Inuit rights and values,” Akeeagok said.

Akeeagok also thanked the defeated Conservative incumbent, Leona Aglukkaq, who finished in third place with 24.8 per cent of the vote.

“QIA is grateful for Ms. Leona Aglukkaq’s tireless efforts in her tenure as the Nunavut MP since 2008,’’ Akeeagok said.

Also on Oct. 20, Natan Obed, the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said he looks forward to working with Justin Trudeau’s new Liberal government.

ITK also pointed out that in response to a questionnaire, the Liberal party said they are committed to “a renewed, respectful and inclusive nation-to-nation Kelowna process to advance progress on critical issues such as housing, infrastructure, health and mental health care, poverty, food security, child welfare, economic opportunity and education.”

Obed also congratulated the four MPs who will represent the four Inuit Nunangat regions: Liberal Michael McLeod (Northwest Territories), Liberal Hunter Tootoo (Nunavut), Liberal Yvonne Jones (Labrador) and the NDP’s Romeo Saganash (Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou).

At the same time, he thanked two defeated MPs — Aglukkaq and the veteran NDP MP, Dennis Bevington, who lost his Northwest Territories seat — “for their commitment to the Arctic and their service to Inuit.”

Pauktuutit, the national Inuit women’s association, congratulated Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada in their own statement Oct. 20.

And, referring to a Liberal election promise, the organization’s “immediate priority” is to ensure that Inuit are “equitably included” in an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women, Pauktuutit’s president, Rebecca Kudloo, said in a statement.

“I know Mr. Trudeau has a sincere love for the North and for Inuit, and I look forward to being fully consulted on the scope, mandate and equitable inclusion of Inuit, as well as immediate measures that can be implemented on an urgent basis,” Kudloo said.

Kudloo pointed out that Inuit women live in regions with the highest rates of violence in the country.

“I look forward to working with Prime Minister Trudeau and his officials to help develop and implement effective safety measures for Inuit women and children,” Kudloo said in a statement.

She also said there are “significant gaps” in the health and well-being of Inuit and that she wants to “renew” discussions with the federal government to talk about restoring funding that has been cut.

Nunavut Premier Peter Taptuna offered his own congratulations Oct. 21 in a statement in the Nunavut legislature.

“This is a new page for Canada,” Taptuna said.

In response to a question from Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak, Taptuna said he wants to meet with Trudeau soon after his new government is sworn in.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. has yet to release a formal statement of congratulations to the new Liberal government and prime minister.

But on the morning of Oct. 21, James Eetoolook, the vice president of NTI, said he likes what he has heard from Trudeau.

“I am grateful for what our new prime minister has mentioned and what he said has to become reality,” Eetoolook said.

Eetoolook also said he hopes that Tootoo will fight for indigenous causes in Ottawa.