Three vie for top job at Nunavik’s Inuit birthright org

Makivik Corp. president Jobie Tukkiapik delivers the Nunavik Inuit Mining Policy to a Quebec City conference last month. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MAKIVIK)

Makivik Corp. president Jobie Tukkiapik will seek a second term as head of Nunavik’s Inuit birthright organization on Jan. 15, Makivik announced Dec. 3.

But he’ll have competition from two other candidates: Jobie Epoo and Robbie Watt.

Tukkiapik took over Makivik’s top job in January 2012, when he unseated long-time president Pita Aatami, who had served 14 years with the organization’s executive.

Since then, Tukkiapik has used his position to lobby the federal government for more housing, steered the region through its Parnasimautik consultations and delivered the region’s “no” position on uranium during Quebec hearings.

But now Tukkiapik will face competition from a pair of well-known Nunavimmiut.

Epoo, a small business owner in Inukjuak, worked for Makivik’s predecessor, the Northern Quebec Inuit Association, in 1978 and served on its board of directors between 1982 and 1988.

Epoo was also mayor of his community through the 1990s and later went on to join the Kativik Regional Police Force, becoming its chief for a time.

Montreal-based Watt recently resigned as executive assistant to Makivik’s corporate secretary to run for president.

In the past, Watt has served as president of Nunavik’s Avataq Cultural Institute and co-commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Inuit sub-commission.

Nunavik beneficiaries can cast ballots Jan. 15 at their local municipal office, any time between 10:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Beneficiaries living in Montreal can vote at Makivik’s office at 1111 Dr. Frederik Philips Blvd. in Saint-Laurent.

Advance polls will also be open in Nunavik and Montreal on Jan. 9.