National Inuit youth org elects Maatalii Okalik as president

The National Inuit Youth Council announced June 11 that it has elected Maatalii Okalik as the new president for the next two years. (PHOTO COURTESY OF INUIT TAPIRIIT KANATAMI)

Calling all Inuit youth — you have a new leader.

The National Inuit Youth Council announced June 11 that Maatalii Okalik, 25, will serve as their new president for the next two years.

Okalik said she wanted the position, and sought after it.

“It was definitely something I was interested in because I think that we have a very unique youth population as Inuit,” Okalik told Nunatsiaq News.

The median age among Inuit is 23, the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Terry Audla, said in a news release.

That means half of all Inuit in Canada are 23 or younger.

Because of that unique youth population, it provides a reason “to ensure that all voices are heard at the national and international level,” Okalik said.

“And to ensure priorities and concerns of Inuit youth are being raised at the right tables,” she said.

To that end, one of the things she’s most looking forward to is bringing youth issues to various boards.

“Why I appreciate the structure of NIYC is because as president I will be sitting on the ITK board of directors as well as the Inuit Circumpolar Council board,” Okalik said.

Okalik said there’s many positives but some “negative realities” for Inuit youth that she’d like to see changed.

There is a list of priorities the NIYC has talked about in previous years, such as suicide prevention, mental health, youth substance abuse and physical health, Okalik said.

“Things that are really positive and that we’ll continue to strengthen is culture and language,” Okalik said.

“As a young population that is a majority, education is definitely a priority,” she said. “And also ensuring culture and language education is included in that theme.”

Okalik is just finishing up her own undergraduate studies.

She has one more semester left at Carleton University, and will graduate with a major in human rights and political science, and a minor in aboriginal studies.

She’s planning on staying in Nunavut, however, and finishing her four remaining courses online.

“It was very difficult and frustrating for me,” Okalik says about her studies.

“In order to pursue university studies we have to be in southern Canada, outside of what Nunavut Arctic College supplies with partnerships with universities,” she said.

“A lot of youth have to leave our homeland to pursue post-secondary. So having moved back home, I decided I’m going to do this here through online.”

On top of her studies, she’s a senior policy advisor at the Government of Nunavut.

In fact, Okalik’s job experience seems to outweigh her educational experience by a wide margin.

Okalik has worked in many different positions, such as juridical officer for the Nunavut Court of Justice, a policy advisor for the Inuit relations secretariat at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and as a national aboriginal health organization research advisor — amongst others.

But how can she juggle the NIYC presidency, school and her GN job?

“This is a volunteer position, I’ll be doing it on evening and weekends,” Okalik said of the presidency.

“I volunteer a lot. It’s a huge part of my life, volunteering for Inuit youth. So [the position] just goes hand-in-hand.”

ITK president Audla said Okalik will be an effective advocate for youth.

“Maatalii brings a great depth of experience and knowledge to this role. The NIYC and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami will benefit from her contributions,” Audla said.

“I also look forward to watching her ongoing and active presence on social media as a voice for Inuit youth,” he said.

Okalik replaces Thomas Anguti Johnson, who served as president for the past two years.

“Anguti has been a tremendous and positive voice for Inuit youth and I am confident that Maatalii will show the same dedication, commitment and passion to advance the interests of our young people,” Audla said.

The next National Inuit Youth Summit will be held in Iqaluit Aug. 20 to Aug. 25.