Makivik candidates make their case
Eight Nunavimmiut vie for VP, three for corporate secretary job in April 6 vote.
IQALUIT — With the Makivik Corporation’s elections set for April 6, candidates for the birthright organization’s executive are out selling their ideas and talents to beneficiaries.
“Of all the elections I’ve seen this is the first time I’ve seen so much campaigning,” said Makivik President Pita Aatami.
Up for grabs are two positions on Makivik’s executive: vice-president for economic development, and corporate secretary.
Crowded race for new VP
An unprecedented number of candidates, eight in all, are contesting the vice-president for economic development position, which has been held for more than 10 years by Mark T. Gordon.
Observers in Nunavik say this race will be close because the vote will be split between the diverse candidates, who come from every region of Nunavik and offer experience in everything from municipal affairs to health and social services.
The candidates vying for the job are Adamie Alaku, Harvey Mesher, Aisara Kenuajuak, Robbie Tookalook, William Tagoona, Charlie Tooktoo, Robert Watt and Eli Weetaluktuk.
Candidates call for airline changes
Whoever wins, Nunavimmiut can look forward to a shake-up in their airlines.
That’s because the new vice-president for economic development will automatically become the chairman of the Makivik-owned airline Air Inuit and sit on the boards of its other subsidiaries, including the airline First Air.
A unifying theme among the eight candidates’ platforms is their desire to use their role to improve transportation in Nunavik as a way of jump-starting the local economy.
William Tagoona, currently on leave from his CBC broadcasting job during the campaign, wants to work more closely with Inuit from other regions to strengthen First Air’s position in the North.
He’d also like to add a north-south route for Air Inuit from Kuujjuaq to Montreal, and look at ways to lower transportation costs for users.
“It’s a big problem we really have to address,” Tagoona said.
Adamie Alaku, director of airports for the regional government, wants upgrades to airports in Inukjuak or Puvirnituq, so larger planes can service Nunavik’s Hudson Bay coast – a call echoed by Aisara Kenoajuak, the mayor of Puvirnituq.
Building more airline service to communities needs to be a priority, according to Charlie Tooktoo, an Air Inuit employee and Umijuaq resident who lobbied successfully for Air Inuit to add a Saturday stop in his community.
Jobs, youth and women
Jobs are also a major concern for the candidates. Harvey Mesher would like to see more Inuit in the construction trades. He’d also push for smaller, more profitable subsidiaries for Makivik.
“Everything is too big, and everything fails,” Mesher said.
Kenoujuak would favour working with the cooperative movement as well as supporting those who want to start small businesses.
Robbie Watt points to his successful Inuit herbal tea venture as president of Avataq as a way to create both jobs and money. This year, Watt’s brainchild will produce 1.2 million tea bags and $100,000 dollars for Nunavik’s cultural institute.
Watt would like to multiply this success 20 times to earn millions of dollars for Nunavimmiut — and he says Makivik would have resources to make this larger-scale herbal tea project work.
“And I want to get more involved politically,” said Watt of his decision to run for Makivik office.
Promoting education for youth and finding more jobs for women was a concern echoed by several candidates. Although no women are running for the vice-president’s role, Tagoona said if elected he’d give their economic needs special attention.
Help for hunters
Robbie Tookalook, a Makivik board member for the past 17 years, wants to help out hunters, by supporting hunters and trappers associations and finding ways to help hunters afford equipment and gasoline.
“Ever since we signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975, our organizations have been developing, but our people are falling behind. They need more help with hunting programs, and they are suffering because of taxes,” Tookalook said.
“We are going through hard times now. We are up to our eyeballs in taxes. That
hasn’t helped us at all.”
Corporate-secretary candidates
Only three candidates are in the running for the position of corporate secretary, with incumbent George Berthe facing Daniel Epoo and Kitty Gordon-Pearson.
Berthe was first elected to Makivik three years ago when he was only 24. Since then, Berthe said he’s concentrated on building up stronger relations with other organizations in Nunavik. He’s worked with the Kativik School Board on developing a scholarship program, with Nunavik’s co-operative federation to establish a working group, and with the regional government so that there are regular meetings between their leaders and Makivik executives.
As the parent of a baby who has suffered serious health problems since birth, Berthe said he’s matured since his election three years ago. Berthe said he wants to work on making even more opportunities available for all Nunavimmiut.
“I care,” Berthe said.
Youth, language, culture, Inuit politics, and housing are among the broader issues Daniel Epoo, president of Inukjuak’s landholding corporation and Nunavik’s Mineral Exploration Fund, says he wants to tackle if elected.
Epoo, who served three terms as corporate secretary under Makivik president Charlie Watt, says he’s up-to-date with the demands of the job – and if he’s elected to serve as corporate secretary again, Epoo said he wants to look at internal and external affairs. He would like to review Makivik’s by-laws and procedures as well as take a close look at the Nunavik Commission’s recommendations for self-government.
“I will not accept self-government at any cost,” Epoo said. “I’m in no hurry to negotiate with a separatist government on our self-government.”
Only woman running
Kitty Gordon-Pearson is the sole woman running for Makivik’s executive. Gordon-Pearson, director of adult education in Kuujjuaq, is a former director of the Isuarsivik Treatment Centre.
She said she decided to run in order to give women more voice in Makivik’s leadership.
“Our ancestors survived on the strength of everyone. Women are rarely included in the discussions. We need women included in everything,” Gordon-Pearson said. “Our children need to see women and men working together.”
If elected, Gordon-Pearson said she will also ensure women employees are more visible at Makivik. She also said she would work closely with youth.
Voting in every Nunavik community as well as in the Montreal area will take place on Friday, April 6, during the final day of the Makivik’s annual general meeting in Kuujjuaraapik.
The chief electoral officer for this Makivik election is Adamie Padlayat.
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