Everybody loves Raymond

Raymond Ningeocheak, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s longtime second vice-president, will face three opponents for the seat in the organization’s March 16 election.

Stanley Anablak, the mayor of Kugluktuk, and Hezikiah Oshutapik, the mayor of Pangnirtung, are both seeking the NTI wildlife post, though both have one year remaining in their terms in office.

Jeannie Evalik of Cambridge Bay is also seeking to overthrow Ningeocheak, who has been the only person to hold the job since the signing of the land claims agreement and the creation of NTI in 1993. He also served for a short while before the creation of NTI, when the organization was known as the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut.

As an NTI employee, Ningeocheak had to take a paid leave of absence from his position in order to campaign for re-election.

In addition to wildlife matters, the second vice-president is responsible for overseeing the Nunavut Harvester Support Program, relations with the Inuit Heritage Trust and the Nunavut Wildlife Management board.