Three candidates to vie for NTI vice president position

With the retirement of Charlie Evalik, the long-time president of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, the association which represents beneficiaries in western Nunavut will see a new president after the votes are counted Dec. 8. (FILE PHOTO)

NTI’s long-time vice president James Eetoolook, pictured here in 2010, will run to keep his position Dec. 8. (FILE PHOTO)

NTI vice president candidate Jesse Mike of Iqaluit is pictured as Nunavut Stars Hockey Camp director this past summer, a program she’s helped run since its start in 2002. (FILE PHOTO)

(Updated at 1 p.m., Nov. 5)

Three Nunavummiut have put their names forward to run for vice president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in the organization’s upcoming Dec. 8 election.

Jesse Mike of Iqaluit and Douglas Aggark of Chesterfield Inlet will run against the organization’s long-time vice president James Eetoolook.

Eetoolook, from Taloyoak, has been involved with the Inuit organization as long as it’s existed; he first joined NTI’s precursor, the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut, when it was formed in 1982. Eetoolook is also one of the signatories to the Nunavut land claims agreement.

Mike, a former staffer with NTI’s Iqaluit office, most recently served as director to the Nunavut Stars Hockey Camp.

Last spring, she also took part in the Women in Action walk between Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet to raise money for cancer.

Aggark has served as senior administrative officer for the hamlet of Chesterfield Inlet and more recently as the vice-chair of the local Aqigiq hunters and trappers organization.

Aggark, 23, has been on the HTO board since he was eligible to run, at age 16. He is the father of two young boys, Sean and David, and says he hopes to bring new ideas to the position of NTI vice-president and to revitalize programs for youth. “I love making changes for the better of my culture and tradition,” he said Nov. 5

New changes at the organization mean that eligible Nunavut Inuit beneficiaries will elect just one new full-time vice president Dec. 8.

The organization has for many years had two vice presidents; NTI’s other vice president, Jack Anawak, resigned his position last fall to run in the 2013 territorial election.

The new vice president at NTI will now be a full-time job, the organization said, and serve on the organization’s board of directors and executive committee.

The vice president must also chair two NTI board committees, including the Inuit Social and Cultural Development Advisory committee and the Inuit Wildlife and Environment Advisory Committee.

Voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 16 years of age and enrolled under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

And voters now have five ways to vote in NTI elections; voters can vote at advance polls on Dec. 1, on election day on Dec. 8, by mobile poll, proxy vote or mail-in ballot.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association has also made official its list of candidates from the position of president, to replace outgoing president Okalik Eegeesiak, who recently took on the role of international chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council.

The QIA has received six nominations for the position of president: Jerry Natanine of Clyde River, Pauloosie (PJ) Akeeagok of Iqaluit, Larry Audlaluk of Grise Fiord, Pauloosie Keyootak of Qikiqtarjuaq, Mikidjuk Akavak of Iqaluit and Meeka Kilabuk of Iqaluit.

Community director positions are up for election in eight communities.

For the Kitikmeot region, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association’s chief returning officer, Martina Maniyogina, also provided an unofficial notice of election Nov. 3 for the president and vice president positions for KIA, which both come with four-year terms.

Competing for the position of president are Peter Akkikungnaq of Gjoa Haven, Stanley Anablak of Cambridge Bay, Jeannie Ehaloak of Cambridge Bay and Joe Ohokannoak of Cambridge Bay.

For vice president, the unofficial list of candidates includes Tars Angutingunirk of Kugaaruk, John Charles Lyall of Taloyoak and David Nivingalok of Kugluktuk.

Subject to confirming eligibility, this is the unofficial list of candidates, Maniyogina said. Candidates have until Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. local time to withdraw their names.

Eligible voters can head to the advance poll on Dec. 1, 2014, 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. or cast their ballots on voting day, Dec. 8, 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

All three regional Inuit organizations and NTI will hold their elections on the same day, Dec. 8.