Kitikmeot Inuit go back to the polls March 30 in western Nunavut

The Kitikmeot Inuit Association, whose head office, seen here, is in Cambridge Bay, seeks a new president to lead it organization. (FILE PHOTO)

It’s election day once again in western Nunavut, as eligible Kitikmeot Inuit beneficiaries vote in a March 30 byelection to choose a new president for the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.

The candidates for the position are:

• Joseph Aglukkaq of Gjoa Haven;

• Stanley Anablak of Cambridge Bay;

• Jeannie Ehaloak of Cambridge Bay;

• Joe Allen Evyagotailak of Kugluktuk;

• Attima Hadlari of Cambridge Bay;

• Donald Havioyak of Kugluktuk;

• Paul Ikuataq of Gjoa Haven;

• David A. Porter of Gjoa Haven; and,

• Walter A. Porter of Gjoa Haven.

The KIA called the March 30 byelection after a bizarre turn of events that saw Peter Akkikungnaq of Gjoa Haven, winner of the Dec. 18, 2014 president’s election, drop out about four weeks later, before he was even sworn in.

Akkikungnaq had defeated Stanley Anablak, Jeannie Ehaloak and Joe Ohokannoak.

But Akkikungnaq, 69, bailed out of the job Jan. 15, telling CBC News that he was “a little too old” and “the system is larger than what I thought it would be.”

So the KIA’s executive committee members, who said the organization’s three vice presidents were too overloaded with work to act as president, named ex-president Charlie Evalik to serve as interim president until today’s byelection produces another president.

Not sure which of the nine candidates to vote for?

Many of the candidates have gone on a new Facebook page called Kitikmeot Politics to talk about their platforms.

Some posters have complained that the slate of nine is too large for any single candidate to get a decisive majority.

Many have urged all eligible voters to turn out for the byelection.

That’s because because turnout this past December ranged from 34 per cent in Cambridge Bay to only 24 per cent in Taloyoak. Only 1,192 eligible voters cast ballots out of a possible 3,638.

If you are eligible to vote, you can head out to the following locations on March 30:

• Kugluktuk — community hall

• Cambridge Bay — community hall

• Taloyoak — former Hamlet chambers

• Gjoa Haven — old community hall

• Kugaaruk — HTO building