New Makivik president’s first “whirlwind” week on the job

“I knew it was going to be close, but it doesn’t take away from the win,” said Makivik President Jobie Tukkiapik of his recent election. “You can’t ignore the fact that Pita has accomplished a lot for the region as president.” (FILE PHOTO)

Jobie Tukkiapik spent the evening of Jan. 19 in his Kuujjuaq home with family, friends and a “hunch” that he might get elected.

His hunch turned out to be right; Tukkiapik beat out three other candidates to take over as president of Makivik Corp. that night, in what was a tight race with the organization’s long-time — and now former — President Pita Aatami.

“People told me that my chances were good, but I knew it was going to be close,” said the 45-year-old father of three. “It was a very exciting night.”

After a recount, Tukkiapik hung onto a 13-vote lead over second-place Aatami, but the former pilot and Kativik Regional Government administrator calls it a victory nonetheless.

“I knew it was going to be close, but it doesn’t take away from the win,” he said. “You can’t ignore the fact that Pita has accomplished a lot for the region as president.”

Tukkiapik, who has sat for more than a decade as the Kuujjuaq representative with Makivik’s board of directors, campaigned on the promise of giving a stronger voice to Nunavimmiut if elected.

He has also talked of spearheading a Nunavik-centred mining policy to prepare for the development expected under Plan Nord; better financial support for local landholding corporations and hunter support programs and more Nunavik-based education opportunities. (Tukkiapik’s eldest daughter is currently completing her secondary studies in Montreal.)

But Tukkiapik isn’t sure which issue hit a nerve with Nunavimmiut voters, enough to have them elect Makivik’s first new president in 14 years.

Perhaps it was the promise of “more openness,” he said, noting that he plans “to move towards better consultation with the region on a number of projects.”

Tukkiapik also acknowledges that 2011 was a year of intense discussion over the region’s future, much of it linked to the Nunavik Regional Government’s final agreement, which Nunavimmiut voted down last April.

But talk of a future Nunavik government remains on the table and will likely top the agenda at Makivik’s annual general meeting in March.

Nunavimmiut have already found a venue to express their ideas and concerns on regional Facebook groups. One group called Your Voice on Nunavik Issues formed following the Makivik election and has already attracted 700 members.

“The use of Facebook is a very powerful tool that can’t be ignored,” Tukkiapik said.

He says he plans to monitor social media as one way to hear what Nunavimmiut are talking about.

After securing his win last week, Tukkiapik went camping for the weekend to prepare himself for the work ahead.

This week has been a “whirlwind” of activity, while the former KRG director general cleared out his old office and moved up the road to Makivik’s Kuujjuaq office.

Tukkiapik officially started his new job Jan. 23 and sat in on his first board meeting Jan. 24.

“I’m just getting settled in now, but we will certainly be looking at social programs first,” he said. “These ideas that I have, I’m pretty sure they’re workable.”