Kono Tattuinee wins 2nd term as Kivalliq Inuit Association president
Voter turnout for Dec. 11 was 29 per cent
Kono Tattuinee remains president of Kivalliq Inuit Association after he was re-elected in the regional Inuit organization’s Dec. 11 election. (File photo)
Kono Tattuinee will return for a second term as the president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association.
The unofficial results from Monday’s election, delivered by returning officer Monica Ell-Kanayuk, are posted on the association’s webpage.
Voters chose a president, vice-president and community directors for Rankin Inlet, Naujaat and Whale Cove.
Tattuinee won the presidential seat with 30 per cent of the vote. He earned 608 votes out of a total 2,055 votes cast. His closest competitor, Sam Alagalak, garnered 454 votes. Behind Alagalak was David Kuksuk, who took 381 votes, Rossy Tatty with 367 votes and Patterk Netser with 245 votes.
Kivalliq Inuit Association’s vice-president is Patrick Tagoona, with 700 out of 2,041 ballots cast, or 34 per cent of the vote. Stanley Adjuk came in second with 567 votes, Donna Adams with 402 votes, Harry Niakrok, who won 191 votes and Willie Nakoolak with 181 votes.
Rankin Inlet’s community director is Nellie Kusugak with 237 of 570 votes. She ran against three competitors — Hamish Tatty (188), Joyce Puyua Green (96), and John Ell (49).
Naujaat’s community director is Johnny Tagornak, who won 92 out of 193 votes cast. Behind him were Helena Maliki (59) and Dino Mablik (42).
The winner in Whale Cove’s race for community director is Guy Enuapik, with 72 out of 97 votes. The runner up in this race was Percy Kabloona, with 25 votes.
Voter turnout for the election was 29 per cent, according to the information included with the unofficial results.
Just some stats here for ya;
So, according to the number posted on the website, 28.7 percent showed up to vote. Breaking down the 28.7 percent on each candidate:
Kono – 608 votes – 8.49 percent
Sam – 454 votes – 6.34 percent
David – 381 – 5.32 percent
Ross – 367 – 5.13 percent
Patterk – 245 – 3.42 percent
I would imagine the outcome would be different if more than 50 percent of the voters came out to cast. but, congratulations on your new/not-so-new leaders!
This isn’t new. The last time Cathy Towtongie was elected NTI president, something like 92% of eligible voters didn’t vote for her.
Aluki Kotierk won the last NTI presidential election with only 12% of potential voters actually choosing her, and that was with a landslide win against a single opponent.
The communities are so disconnected with our organizations especially NTI, they don’t travel to the communities to engage with people, they prefer to travel south or internationally but not to their communities.
That is a big problem and people feel they have nothing to offer or be heard.
How many times has the NTI president travel to the communities versus travelling south or to international destinations?
The strong majority of Inuit in the Kivaliiq wanted to ditch the guy but there were a few too many candidates on the ballot. This one does not appear to be any bit of a leader and it is unfortunate for the communities.
Hopefully, if you are going to complain like that, you are one of the Beneficiaries who were eligible to and that you did vote. I know that I was eligible, that I took my opportunity AND that I am happy with the outcome. If Kivalliqmuit are going to spend the next 4 years complaining about our leaders they need to make sure they actually take their chance to make the change OR become more involved in our politics when KIA visits for meetings.
Congrats to Kono and Patrick. You guys will be able to work well with our board and NTI to make sure Kivalliqmuit voices are heard and respected. I can’t wait to see what can be done in the next 4 years.
I believe you missed the point… It was not a complaint about the outcome of the winners, but more of a show of how poor the voter turnout was. If you are wondering if I voted, yes, I did show up and waited in the long line and voted as my name indicates and I am SO HAPPY you voted too 😉 Everyone has their reasons why they either voted or didn’t vote. It could be that it was too cold to go out, too far to travel to the old arena (although rides were probably made available), or they didn’t like the pool of candidates to choose from or just don’t care about voting as nothing really changes for them, I don’t know. Whatever the reason, it should change so they actually take the time to vote. Let me guess, you are a family member or a close friend of one of the winners LOL
Don’t you love democracy’s, have a choice not to vote, or vote, then whine and moan about the result , this is a great country
so according to their most recent financiala KIA pulled in 71M. maybe they could make contribution of 5-10 M towards housing in Nunavut?
Poor Nunavut 🤣
Who’s with me let’s go back to NWT
In case you all forgot…Inuit silence is also a reply.
I now understand how other Indigenous people who live on reserves complain about corruption in their Tribal Councils. At least our territorial government has checks and balances to keep it half assed respectable.
I have never once heard of any of the regional organizations enforce any of their IIBAs. Yet, you hear about abuses against IIBAs in more than one mine….Bad Implementation departments, just want the gravy train to continue, while we have no idea where the money from IIBAs are being spent-we just get bribed with gift certificates. lol
If you haven’t heard of the RIOs then you clearly haven’t read or paid attention to the Nunavut Agreement. The RIOs were created through or Nunavut Agreement so that they can represent each region to NTI and make sure that we us Regional Inuit are properly represented to people who come and use our land. The RIOs are more important that you think. How about you sit down and take a read of the Nunavut Agreement. NTI only represents Inuit to the Federal government and NTI gets the information they need from the RIOs. The RIOs are represented by their Presidents and Vice-Presidents on NTI’s Board and they get their information from their regional community members.
I was talking about the RIOs “regional organizations” is the term I used. And IIBAs (Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreements) are signed by the RIOs In case you’re ignorant of that too. So each region has an Implementation officer(DIO) that is supposed to police their own organization and ensure they are upholding each of the RIOs responsibilities undernthe NLCA. In addition to this each RIO has another Implementation Coordinator specifically for the RIOs IIBA- whether it’s with the feds for parks within Nunavut or a mining company etc.
So I say again, have you ever seen any of the RIOs take anyone to task over their IIBA. Immaqaa uqalimaaruvit qajigajaqtutit?
Maybe I need to slow it down for you:
1. Regional Organizations is what I used to describe RIAs
2. IIBA is a term from the NLCA to make sure Inuit benefit from any land use.
3. Each RIA has a DIO Officer/Implementation Coordinator (NLCA terms for you to understand)
4. In addition to this each RIO also sign an IIBA with rules for how the company works in the territory and what benefits its supposed to give…
Now tell me, can you understand what I’ve written or do you need me to quote from the NLCA so you can understand?
Uqalimaaruk NLCA.
It looks like one of you is referring to the content of the Nunavut Agreement (NLCA) and the other one to how well it is being implemented. Two different points, both valid, neither negates the other one.
Anyway, whatever. Politics in Nunavut is just a popularity game and not much else.
Congratulations Kono, well deserved. Hard work pays off.
kivalliq stuck with him again. lets all sleep for the next four years
Make arviat great again
Now bring Inuit broadcasting corporations to arviat, like what tagornaaq said while he was campaigning. And move Kiv ia buildings to arviat as if that is going to happen eh.