Nancy Karetak-Lindell vows to be northern voice for Nunavut in Senate
Trudeau names former Liberal MP for Nunavut to fill territory’s sole Senate seat
Former Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell, left, is appointed to the Order of Canada by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon in 2022. On Thursday, Karetak-Lindell was named appointed as Nunavut’s new senator. (File photo by Madalyn Howitt)
Nancy Karetak-Lindell is Nunavut’s new senator, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday in a news release almost a year after the territory’s lone seat became vacant
“It hasn’t really sunk in for me yet,” Karetak-Lindell said in a phone interview an hour after her appointment was announced.
“I am truly honoured and humbled that I’m able to be selected for this position,” she said.
The territory’s only seat in the Senate — the upper house in Canada’s Parliament — has been vacant since Dennis Patterson retired last December, nearly a year ago.
At 67, Karetak-Lindell is set to serve until she reaches the Senate’s mandatory retirement age of 75. The Senate appointment comes with a base salary of $178,100 a year, according to the Library of Parliament.
She said she plans to focus on issues important to the North, including the high cost of living, housing shortages, and access to education.
“Inuit and people in the North really need to have a voice speaking on their behalf, making sure our points of view, our values and our knowledge are being used to make decisions in the North,” Karetak-Lindell said.
While she expects to travel frequently down south for her new role, she said Arviat, where she was born and raised, will remain her home.
This is not Karetak-Lindell’s first time making leadership strides in the south.
She made history in 1997 as a Liberal MP — the first female MP for the Eastern Arctic, and the inaugural representative for the newly established Nunavut riding.
Re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2006, she served 11 years in Parliament, where she was parliamentary secretary to the minister of natural resources and chairperson of the Aboriginal affairs and northern development committee.
Representing the largest geographical riding in Canada, Karetak-Lindell said it is important to work collaboratively with others to ensure northern perspectives are understood in Ottawa.
“When you’re one lone voice representing such a large and unique riding, you have to work with people to make sure other colleagues understand the message you’re trying to share,” she said.
Nunavut’s current MP Lori Idlout, acknowledging the challenges of being the territory’s only voice in the House of Commons, congratulated Karetak-Lindell in a Twitter post Thursday.
“I have always admired Nancy, and her appointment will mean Nunavut has another strong Inuk female voice in Ottawa,” Idlout tweeted.
In Parliament, Nunavut has one seat in the House of Commons, whose members are elected, and one seat in the unelected Senate.
Karetak-Lindell’s contributions to the North continued after she stepped down from her MP role in 2008.
She served as director of the Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowship Program, chaired the Indigenous Knowledge Program at the International Polar Year conference, and led the Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada as its president from 2016 to 2018.
Her commitment extended to community work, including serving on the Arviat hamlet council, Arviat Education Council, and Nunavut Arctic College board of governors.
She also held leadership roles with the Nunavut Development Corp. and Polar Knowledge Canada, and co-founded the Arviat Amateur Athletic Association.
Karetak-Lindell’s advocacy has been widely recognized. In 2022, she was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada.
While she is looking forward to taking on the responsibilities of her new role, for now Karetak-Lindell said she is “going through all the wonderful messages I’m receiving from people.”
“I really appreciate the trust that people have in me and the confidence they have in me to represent this position,” she said.
“And I intend to do it with every ability I have.”
Congratulations Nancy!!
Nancy Karetak has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and dedication throughout her career, serving as an inspiring example of what can be achieved through perseverance and a deep commitment to community. As someone from Arviat, a community rich in cultural heritage and renowned for its remarkable talent in singing, artistry, traditional sewing, and politics, Nancy embodies the strength and resilience that Arviat is known for.
Her accomplishments reflect the enduring spirit of Arviat—a place that has not only produced incredible leaders like Nancy but also continues to uphold the Inuktitut language and cultural programs with pride. At a time when many communities face challenges in preserving their traditions, Arviat stands out as a beacon of cultural strength, keeping its identity alive through language, art, and storytelling.
Arviat has been home to many remarkable individuals who have left an indelible mark in their fields. Leaders like Joe Savikataaq Sr., former Premier of Nunavut and current MLA for Arviat South, and John Main, Minister of Health and MLA for Arviat North–Whale Cove, have dedicated their careers to improving the lives of Nunavummiut. Joe Savikataaq Jr., Arviat’s current mayor, has accomplished much for the community, particularly in creating opportunities for youth and fostering local development.
Cultural icons such as Susan Aglukark, a celebrated Juno Award-winning singer, and artists like Lucy Tasseor Tutsweetok, Luke Anowtalik, and Mary Ayaq Anowtalik have elevated Arviat’s rich artistic traditions to national and international stages. David Serkoak, a renowned educator and traditional drum dancer, has played a significant role in preserving Inuit traditions, sharing his cultural knowledge with communities and inspiring pride in Inuit heritage.
Nancy’s achievements, alongside those of her fellow Arviammiut, remind us of the power of strong cultural foundations and the importance of giving back to one’s community. Her contributions pave the way for future generations of Inuit leaders and serve as a reminder that, with dedication and respect for one’s heritage, anything is possible.
Thanks ChatGPT.
A walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets its minute upon the stage
and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of correct spelling, facts and platitudes, signifying nothing.
(with apologies to Macbeth)
No shade on Nancy, she is a good pick. But please stop with the AI paeans!
You forgot Mark Kalluak and Eric Anoee.
people of significance, as manifested by an informed mind
She was little more than a token presence as an MP. No reason to think she’ll be any different as a Senator.
Canada is running 60 billion dollar deficits. There’s no money for housing and other critical infrastructure in Nunavut and other indigenous communities across the country. Healthcare has become unsustainable. And yet, in the face of all of this, this undemocratic dinosaur institution we call the Senate lives on and prospers. If that isn’t bad enough, Trudeau isn’t even pretending to make independent, non partisan appointments. Karetak-Lindell’s only claim to fame was as a former Liberal MP. What a joke. But it fits nicely with the clown show narrative currently going on in Ottawa. But I’m sure the Senate will play a pivotal role in solving our nation’s problems LOL
She struts like she owns the place. Power trip will increase 10 fold. I would have chosen someone else.
Like Nunavut’s first Senator, Willie Adams (also a Liberal appointment), once sworn in she may never be heard from again.
Agreed, Nunavutmiut only heard from Nancy as an MP when she supported the liberal party’s gun control motion that, at that time hand-cuffed Inuit Hunters. Trudeau has since been trying his best to bolster gun regulation targeting innocent gun owners over criminals. Expect the same from Ms. Karetak Lindell.
Nunavut needs more men at workplaces. Not enough men for Inuit men to speak to at workplaces.
Absolutely correct, but speaking about the male under-representation in the GN is taboo. The much higher, on average, formal educational achievement of women goes a long way towards explaining this, but there must be something that can be done.
There is always a response to this problem. “Go to school and get an education and stay off the booze”
I’ve met and known numerous elected and appointed municipal, provincial, territorial, and federal politicians, and senators. Very, very few are or were qualified or had the integrity to be in positions that wielded power or needed competence or responsibility.
Many were mayors, ministers, even premiers. Same goes for most people who head up non-profit organizations, crown agencies and a variety of NGOs
Such is the condition of Western society and has been the state of civilization for thousands of years
I agree with Kenn and Big Ben
Enough said!!!!
Thank you
The trolls on these posts all I have read for the last 3 years is we need an Inuk senator ,and why Patterson was no good, we now have a Inuk senator and are starting to attack her, again Inuit tearing down Inuit, it’s all normal in Nunavut,
It’s an Inuk thing.
It’s what we do.😜😝
It’s purely envy and jealousy! The biggest weakness of people in our communities as success is frowned upon. No wonder there is so much hopelessness! Success needs to be celebrated!
She was the obvious choice all along. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone really.
Where is the official list of candidates considered?
My sincere congratulation to Nancy Karetak on her appointment to Senate, well deserved.
Congratulations Nancy. We both were on Nunavut Arctic College, creating the first college for Nunavut. Was a good experience to work with you. Alianait.
I didn’t see a list of the potential candidates. I assume you did, to make a statement like that?
Expect nepotism in the Ottawa area. You’ll find only fam and close friends receive positions and recognition.
Congratulations on being NU’s First Senator.
It would be cool if she’d visit communities in Nunavut presenting what her role will be and all that.