Nunavik Inuit elect two new executives to birthright organization

Nunavik voters ushered in change at their Inuit birthright organization this week with the election of two women to its executive—a first in 20 years at Makivik Corp.

On Jan. 17, Nunavimmiut elected Maggie Emudluk as Makivik’s new vice-president of economic development and Rita Novalinga as its new corporate secretary.

Emudluk, a former mayor of Kangiqsualujjuaq and long-time chair of the Kativik Regional Government, won the three-way race with 46 per cent of the vote.

Maggie Emudluk, left, is Makivik’s new vice-president of economic development, while Rita Novalinga is the organization’s new corporate secretary. (File photos)

The bulk of her support came from Kuujjuaq and Montreal, as well as from her hometown of Kangiqsualujjuaq.

Outgoing VP Andy Moorhouse finished close behind with 42 per cent of the vote, which he drew largely from his hometown of Inukjuak and other communities along Nunavik’s Hudson coast.

Third-place contender Sammy Kudluk garnered 11 per cent of votes cast.

Rita Novalinga, who has held management roles at both Kativik Ilisarniliriniq and the Fédération des cooperatives du nouveau-Québec, beat out three other candidates to take the role of corporate secretary with 35 per cent of voters’ support.

Fellow candidate George Peters followed close behind with 30 per cent of the vote. Incumbent corporate secretary Adamie Padlayat took 26 per cent of the vote while George Pilurtuut garnered eight per cent support.

Voter turnout was low in the Jan. 17 election, however, with just 33 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots. You can see the full election results at Makivik’s website.

The Jan. 17 election marks the first time in more than 20 years that Makivik Corp. has had women sit on its executive.

Sheila Watt-Cloutier served as corporate secretary at Makivik in the mid-1990s. Before that, Minnie Grey and Martha Kauki were both elected to executive positions in 1984.

Mary Simon is the only woman who has served as Makivik’s president, from 1982 to 1986.

Makivik Corp., which counts five executive members, staggers its elections each January.

The organization’s sitting president, Charlie Watt, was elected to a three-year term in January 2018. Makivik’s vice-president of environment, wildlife and research and its treasurer roles, will be up for election again in January 2020.