New president for Taqramiut Nipingat Inc.

Taqramiut Nipngat Inc., Nunavik’s public television and radio broadcaster, announced the appointment of George Kakayuk as its new president this week.

Kakayuk, of Salluit, was elected at the broadcaster’s annual general meeting in Kuujjuaraapik on Oct 2. He has been sporadically involved with TNI since 1979. He has twice previously held the position of president.

Kakayuk said his main focus for the next two years will be developing TNI’s own radio network.

“That’s pretty much our priority at this time. We’re linking up the communities. Right now we go through the CBC — we have a slot of time on their network,” Kakayuk said in an interview last week.

Kakayuk said TNI, under his leadership, will hopefully establish its own network. Instead of having a TNI slot on the CBC, TNI will have its own network, offering time slots for each Nunavik community.

Kakayuk also serves as a municipal councillor for Salluit, regional councillor for the Kativik Regional Government and pastor of the local Four Gospel Church.