‘Father of Nunavut’ to return home
Key figure in the creation of Nunavut has been working to return to the territory for 3 months
John Amagoalik, centre, plans to return to Nunavut after spending 16 months living at an elder care facility in Ottawa. Amagoalik is seen here with former Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser, after she presented Amagoalik with the Order of Canada in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. Anis Assari/Rideau Hall)
John Amagoalik, widely known as the “Father of Nunavut,” is returning to the territory after having spent the last 16 months at an elder care home in Ottawa.
He is scheduled to fly back to Iqaluit on Friday, according to a joint news release from Anne Crawford, Steve Keilliher and Mark Stiles, three of Amagoalik’s longtime friends who have been facilitating the move for three months.
“The group has raised funds to cover the cost of a comprehensive plan of care for John and his wife, Evie, medical equipment and supplies and support services over the short term,” the release said.
Nunatsiaq News tried to reach Amagoalik on Monday for an interview, but he was unavailable.
Amagoalik has been living at the Embassy West Senior Living facility in Ottawa since spring 2025.
He played an integral role in the creation of Nunavut and chaired the Nunavut Implementation Commission, the 10-member organization that outlined what eventually became Nunavut’s government, which came to fruition on April 1, 1999.
In the 1980s, he served two terms as president of Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, which became Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and was co-chair of the Inuit Committee on National Issues and the Nunavut Constitutional Forum.
In 1999, he received the Legion of Honour, France’s highest order of merit that was established in 1802 by Napoleon. In 2014, he received the Order of Nunavut. Five years later, he received the Order of Canada from Mary Simon, an Inuk leader herself and the first Indigenous person to serve as governor general.
There was numerous people who contributed to the creation of Nunavut. Bless John for being involved but why does the press continue to call him the father
We are not overtly religious are we
Well said, there are many fathers and mothers for Nunavut, John A among them.
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I think it’s important to stress the collective contribution of many people in making history with the creation of Nunavut, rather than just a handful.
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Either way, I am glad to hear John is coming back to Nunavut after all the difficulties with Embassy West down south!
Quallunaut need “someone in charge” as their upbringings do not allow for “consensus” lifestyle, where more than one can be a contributor to a cause.
Inuit always perceived group contributions, not just idols. Other cultures value character of supremacy, such as voting and in tangle with the mess of the making of a trump
I thought Tagaaq Curley was the father of Nunavut with support from John A and many others. Tagaaq was the mover and Shaker.
The irony here is that the:
A) “Father of Nunavut”, and Order of Canada recipient could not even remain in Nunavut to receive the care he and his wife required. Let that sink in for a few moments. 25+ years on from the birth of Nunavut they had to leave (16 months ago) and only now is he and his wife able to come HOME to receive the care they need.
B) Funds had to be “privately” raised to facilitate that.
That my friends is sad!
Current infrastructure is about 20 years behind in Nunavut, outsiders are not welcome there (including non inuk canadians) that is one of the contributing reasons they are behind the rest of the country that and -60 sucks for everyone
Outsiders might no be welcome but they are here. 1000s of immigrants. Cab drivers, security ppl, airport security, northmart staff and security, ventures check out. They do not prop up our economy. Children born here from families that have live here for decades cant get a job to start their life. Home inflation is out of control. 1 bedroom rent for 3600$ 3 bedroom one bathroom homes that are 25 years old and nothing special can reach 850,000$ theres nothing good about having immigration in a territory where the infrastructure cannor support it and it strains local living safety and culture.
Ok, who is going to do the jobs you mention if not “1000’s of immigrants”? Don’t you think every employer would hire locally if only it was possible?
The interesting thing about nunavut agreement is that workforce must be locally but the hiring managers all come from down south, rarely hire locals and a lot of the times resumes from Inuit are just thrown away.
By nunavut law the new boarding home should employee majority of Inuit but only 1 Inuk works there. The employers are not hiring locally and this is why people are speaking up about immigrants taking over jobs. Almost every worksite in Iqaluit is employed with a southerners because they do not want to hire inuit.
Go to the boarding home and ask how many Inuit work there and look at the workers and where they come from. All of them come from outside of canada.
Please reread article 13 of the Nunavut Land Claims.
Your interpretation of the employment la is incorrect.
At least he doesn’t drive around claiming he is the father of Nunavut, unlike some.
Welcome home!!! What I dont understand is why a team had to fundraise for this? Non insured health benefits should have covered his return with supporting medical equipment. Health should have coordinated his return ?
James Arvaluk was President of ITC in 1976 when the first Nunavut proposal was tabled to the Government of Nunavut
If anyone is going to be called Father of Nunavut, perhaps he should be.
Given his later criminal history accrued while serving in the NWT Legislative Assembly after his time with ITC, we probably are more than comfortable glossing over his contribution towards our treaty and territory.
Tagak, John, Jose, all those other guys, it is possible that they can be called the Uncles of Nunavut instead.