Gordon faces fight for key Makivik VP position

After a three-year hiatus, Adamie Alaku is looking to get his old job back (PHOTO COURTESY ADAMI ALAKU)

The incumbent vice-president of economic development, Michael Gordon, says cell phone service is “much-needed” in Nunavik. (FILE PHOTO)

SARAH ROGERS

A two-way race is heating up in time for Makivik Corp.’s Jan. 21 elections, when eligible Nunavimmiut will elect the organization’s next vice-president of economic development.

In this race, neither contender would be new to the job.

Michael Gordon, the incumbent, is running to keep his job against fellow Kuujjuaq resident Adamie Alaku, who held the same post until 2007.

Michael Gordon served as mayor of Kuujjuaq for four terms before he was elected as Makivik’s VP economic in 2007.

Gordon said he needs more time to realize many of the initiatives he launched during his last mandate.

“The projects we started need to get off the ground,” he told Nunatsiaq News. “They’re important.”

Gordon is hoping to see cell phones eventually become a regular part of daily communication in Nunavik. As part of a pilot project, 30 Kuujjuaq residents are testing cellular phones within the municipality’s emergency sector.

Gordon said that mobile phones are a much-needed tool for the north that will greatly help hunters camping out on the land. Like his contender, Gordon believes in the strength of Makivik’s subsidiary companies.

In particular, he points to Halutik Enterprises, a company he said has become profitable during his mandate.

Gordon has spent much of his time with Makivik studying Nunavik’s mining projects and how to increase their regional benefits.

One of Gordon’s goals is to bring what he calls a “mining observatory” to Nunavik; a facility staffed with mining experts that could keep Nunavimmiut better in touch with the regional industry.

“It is a big business and we want to make sure we’re up to date on that sector,” he said.

If re-elected, Gordon said he would like to organize an regional economic summit that would bring together partners in developing Nunavik’s different land-based industries, such as hunting, fishing, sewing and other crafts.

Adamie Alaku served as Makivik’s economic vice-president from 2001-2007.

The Salluit native says the key to developing the region’s economy is building on relationships with other Inuit organizations, from the Kativik School Board to local municipalities.

“I don’t want to re-invent the wheel, I want to grow on what’s already in place,” he told Nunatsiaq News.

Alaku works as a director with the region’s Service Canada centre.

During Alaku’s previous six years at Makivik, he said he initiated a number of different projects and joint ventures, including Nunavik Creations.

“I also had the Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping file in which I strongly urged with our partners to purchase a new ship and expand our market,” Alaku said, noting that Makivik’s subsidiary companies play a vital role in Nunavik’s economy.

“If I am given a new mandate at Makivik, I will explore what has been done on recycling and find ways to promote this important activity,” Alaku said, “while working with other established organizations on tourism development and mining exploration in Nunavik communities.”

Alaku is also promoting a plan to gather youth and elders to recreate an old Inuit settlement or camp from the early 1900s, using only the tools and material available from that era.

The venue, he said, could be used to live in, visit or to teach about traditional Inuit culture.

This is the first time that the elections for the executives are being held outside of Makivik’s annual general meeting.
About 6,000 Nunavimmiut will be eligible to elect a vice-president to a new three-year term Jan. 21.

Beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement over the age of 18 years can vote at polling stations set up in every community.

As part of Makivik’s staggered election system, only the executive positions of VP economic development and corporate secretary are up for election this month. Candidates for corporate secretary include Minnie Grey, Harriet Keleutak, Andy Moorhouse, George Pilurtuut and Peter Papyarluk.