Candidates for NTI presidency can file papers starting next week
Byelection being held to fill vacancy left after resignation of Jeremy Tunraluk, who intends to run again
The nomination period for the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. presidential by-election starts next week. (File photo by David Venn)
The process to elect the new president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will begin next week when candidates can officially put their names forward.
Candidates can file their nomination papers between April 15 and 21 in advance of the election set for May 27, NTI announced in a news release last week.
NTI is the legal representative for Inuit beneficiaries in Nunavut and ensures promises set out in the Nunavut Agreement are carried out by the federal and territorial governments.
The president is elected for a four-year term.
The byelection is being held to fill the vacancy created by the January resignation of Jeremy Tunraluk, who was elected in December 2024.
Tunraluk had been president for about a year when Iqaluit RCMP charged him with a single count of assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm in December 2025.
That charge was stayed during Tunraluk’s first court appearance on Jan. 15, halting prosecution of the criminal charge. But Tunraluk resigned on Jan. 21, after NTI’s board passed a resolution recommending to the NTI membership that they remove him as president.
Paul Irngaut, formerly the organization’s vice-president, is serving as president until the byelection.
Tunraluk told Nunatsiaq News he would run again, arguing he was unfairly pushed out after he was charged. Others who have disclosed an intention to run are former candidate Andrew Nakashuk, former MLA Manitok Thompson and former NTI president and MLA Cathy Towtongie.
Eligible candidates must be Inuit who are enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement, at least 16 years of age or older on election day, and be eligible to vote. They will have to fill out nomination papers and provide a criminal record check for their candidacy to be accepted.
Joe Adla Kunuk, president of Ayaya Marketing & Communications, a sister company to Nunatsiaq News, is chief returning officer for the byelection. Nomination packages will be available on the NTI website, the news release said.
The byelection was originally to be held in December to coincide with the vice-presidential election. However, NTI moved up the date for the byelection.
Bring out your deplorables and unemployables; your has beens and egotistical wannabes not forgetting your uneducated and clueless for another NTI election is upon us.
Hey Danny, this is a good description of yourself. Now I know who you are because I seen you outside Northmart asking for smokes. Call NAC for further education where entry level is at your favor.
Anyone but sister amigos…..
John Amagoalik, Tagak Curley, James Eetoolook, Bobby Kadlun, and Titus Allooloo.
Just a few of the top names of Inuit who started representing Inuit in their 20s and 30s.
For the love of everything holy, you young Inuit out there that are not at war with the RCMP, see beyond virtue signaling and acting the victim, step up now and set a positive vision for Nunavut and put your ideas in motion.
You will find the electorate very, very interested in what you have to say.
How many times do we need to go back to the same well before we dig a new one?