Nominations open for 2019 Order of Nunavut

Is there someone you think deserves Nunavut’s highest honour, the Order of Nunavut?

The Order of Nunavut advisory council wants to know. It’s inviting Nunavummiut to submit nominations for the 2019 Order of Nunavut, said Simeon Mikkungwak, the council’s chairperson and Speaker of the legislative assembly.

The order was first introduced in January 2010 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural, social or economic well-being of Nunavut.

The first Order of Nunavut was awarded in 2011 to three recipients: Rev. Mike Gardener, the late Jose Kusugak and the late Mark Kalluak,

“As we look forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the coming into force of the Order of Nunavut Act, I encourage all Nunavummiut to consider nominating someone who has made a positive and enduring contribution to our territory,” Mikkungwak said in a Dec. 13 news release.

The objective of the award is to “honour individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural, social or economic well-being of Nunavut,” the release said.

As the highest honour of Nunavut, it takes precedence over all other orders, decorations or medals awarded by the Government of Nunavut.

The inclusion of the Order of Nunavut into the Canadian Honours System was formalized in 2018 by way of a federal order in council that was approved by the Governor General, the release said.

The Order of Nunavut advisory council, whose members include Mikkungwak, the chief justice of the Nunavut Court of Justice and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., plans to look at nominations and make recommendations to the commissioner of Nunavut, who serves as the chancellor of the Order.

Acclaimed filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk speaks on June 5, 2019, in the chamber of the legislative assembly during his investiture into the Order of Nunavut. (Photo by Jane George)

Nominations are now open and must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28.

Nomination forms are available from the offices of MLAs and can be downloaded from the legislative assembly’s website.

To date, 18 people have received the Order of Nunavut for contributions in such fields as public and community service, the arts, education, language promotion, spiritual leadership and business development.

Last year, filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk received the Order of Nunavut at an investiture ceremony that took place in June at the legislative assembly.