Great moments in a few vivid words

"I didn't run in the race to be a member of the legislative assembly because I am a woman. I just happen to be one."

– Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak, after being asked how she feels about becoming Nunavut's first woman premier.

"Oh no. I'm in shock. It ­shouldn't happen."

– Lorne Kusugak, then the mayor of Rankin Inlet, commenting on First Air's cancellation of its Winnipeg-Rankin passenger service.

"The collective assets have become the piggy bank to a few. We can't allow this to continue."

– Senator Charlie Watt, in a written statement about $1.5 million in bonuses received by First Air directors last summer.

"I am discussing this with the Inuit of Nunavik, not with Nunatsiaq News."

– Pita Aatami, president of Makivik Corp., in a Sept. 24 email communication, after being asked to comment on the $600,000 bonus he received as chair of First Air's board of directors.

"It appears to be that this board lacks independent oversight and independent directors, and it's a complete opposite of best practices. Best practices are having a majority of independent directors."

– Richard Leblanc, a professor of corporate governance, law and ethics at York University,commenting on decision of the First Air board to hand out bonuses to directors.

"The only people who can afford to travel are government workers on duty travel, bootleggers and drug dealers."

– Philip Paniaq of Pond Inlet, commenting on high air fares at an NTI annual general meeting.

"In my interview, I admitted to having no experience in the financial sector, so it is not surprising then that I failed to uphold the standards necessary."

– Mel Orecklin, a former CEO of the Nunavut Business Credit Corp., describing how the GN hired him for a job he wasn't qualified for.

"Ninety-eight per cent of the time I'm happy at the end of the day. How many people can say that? Each day I helped put a smile on at least one kid's face. I'm here for the kids, and I will never change."

– Joé Juneau, former NHL player and organizer of the Nunavik Youth Hockey Program

"I think we're burned in effigy every second day probably, so it doesn't bother us much."

– Barry Rashotte, an official with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, commenting on a boat-burning held in Iqaluit to protest Nunavut's small fisheries quotas.

"We shouldn't have to be here."

– Rev. Tom Martin during his sermon at the Aug. 29 funeral in Kuujjuaraapik for murder victims Minnie Natchequan, 37, a childcare worker, and her two children, Dawson, six, and Peter, eight.

"You can't marry Inuit Qaujimatuqangit to the new way of life. The government has this policy to incorporate IQ into the workplace, but I have never seen it work. It's just words."

– Iqaluit resident Saila Kipanek, in comments made to the Qikiqtani Truth Commission last summer.

"We were really nervous. It's huge! But we got close to it, and we got it."

– Bowhead whale hunter Noel Annahatak of Kangiqsujuaq, describing how he participated in Nunavik's bowhead whale harvest last year.

"My daughter wants to be a doctor. How is she going to be a doctor if she doesn't go to school?"

– Lizzie Ningiuruvik, commenting on the lack of a teacher for her daughter in Quaqtaq.