Nunavummiut share mixed feelings over Queen’s legacy
Some who met her express respect for her as a person, also acknowledge monarchy’s ties to colonialism
Queen Elizabeth, seen in the middle, during her visit to Iqaluit, then known as Frobisher Bay, in 1970. The Queen died on Sept. 8, at 96, after a 70 year reign. (Photo courtesy of Barrie Gunn)
The passing of Canada’s monarch, Queen Elizabeth, brought mixed reactions from current and past residents of Nunavut, who admired her as a person but recognized the often-difficult relationship Inuit have had with the Crown.
“She was a strong lady,” Lynda Gunn, an Iqaluit woman who works with the city’s district education authority, said the day after the world learned the Queen had died.
Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 in Scotland, Buckingham Palace announced Thursday. She had the longest reign of any Canadian monarch, ascending to the throne in 1952 at the age of 25.
As Canada’s head of state, she visited Nunavut once after it became a territory, in 2002. She also visited the region in 1970 and 1994.
At the Nunavut legislative assembly on Friday, a book of condolences was placed on a table, along with flowers, for anyone who wanted to pay their respects. It also included two pictures of the Queen during her time in Nunavut as well as a portrait of her majesty and her late husband, Prince Philip. There were approximately 10 signatures.
Piita Irniq, who was commissioner of Nunavut when the Queen visited Iqaluit in 2002 and now lives in Ottawa, met the Queen three separate times when she came to the North. He said she was interested in how Nunavut was created.
“She made a lot of friends and acquaintances in the Arctic,” he said.
During the 1970 visit, Gunn’s father, the regional director for the Baffin region, served as a host to the Royal Family as they visited the Eastern Arctic.
“They really enjoyed it,” Gunn said of her parents hosting Elizabeth and the royals.
Gunn added that she was too young to accompany her parents, but she admired the Queen and how she carried herself. The Queen also gave her father a signed picture of the Royal Family, she said.
“She was such a terrific role model and leader,” Gunn said.
However, with the monarchy heavily linked to Canada’s colonial history, Gunn said she understands that the Queen’s death can stir mixed emotions in places like Nunavut.
Gunn said she can see how thinking of the monarchy can bring up traumatic thoughts in Nunavut. She noted residential schools as an example and how those experiences are connected to the social problems Nunavummiut face today.
Manitok Thompson, who was an MLA when the Queen visited Nunavut in 2002, said the monarchy is for the British, not for Inuit. In an aristocratic society, Inuit will never be equal, she added.
However, Thompson added her interaction with Elizabeth as a person was a pleasant one.
“Queen Elizabeth was a nice person from when I met her,” Thompson said.
“If she wasn’t in that role, I would have loved to visit her and have tea.”
Hopefully she is the last monarch to ever appear on our money
The idea of Charles on our cash definitely has an unappealing feel to it. He is very unlikable and that fact really highlights the superficiality of his position as ‘King.’
If Canada is serious about reconciliation then an indigenous person or design should be on one of the bills.
The $50 bill having Inuktitut on it just isn’t enough for the 0.2% of Canada’s population that is Inuit.
Absolutely not – should be a new Canadian, preferably from east or South Asia.
It is time to third tremendous contribution to the country is recognized. There’s lots underway in the field of reconciliation, but our immigrant populations are neglected.
When the new $10 was introduced, people were pushing hard for Louis Riel or Tommy Prince to be on it, but of course, Canada picked yet another settler.
This country was created by ‘settlers’ so don’t pretend to be so surprised.
Also, if that makes you unhappy push for Nunavut to form its own independent state, they you can plaster yourself all over your own cash.
Go for it, I hope you succeed.
Yep, those ‘settlers’ are the ones who had the vision and the drive to create this country. Why shouldn’t they be recognized? Not to the exclusion of others of course, but they were the driving force and should be recognized.
Maybe its time to separate from monarchy and create United Provinces & Territories of Canada (UPTC). This is 21st century!
It is worth asking how long Canada can or will remain an intact federal state. If you look closely you will see tremendous regional differences and growing regional identities. It is not hard to imagine an eventual fracturing and Balkanization of Canada into a collection of smaller independent states.
There are tremendous regional differences in the USA yet they remain united. Weak argument.
Certainly, the US is far more divided than Canada and the same problem applies to them. It would be simplistic to say it is only about regionalism, though, the deeper forces, though related, tend to center around identities.
It makes sense and I look forward to it.
It sounds too much the like the United Peoples of Canada the group illegally occupying the St. Rigid church in Ottawa. The white supremacy group tied to the trucker convoy.
The country name should be a Mohawk word as they made southern Ontario what it is today. If they didn’t side with British parts of the Kingston, even Ottawa would be the United States.
Serious question to you, oh ima. Given your obvious hostility to non-Inuit people, culture and politics, have you ever considered joining a movement for the independence of Nunavut? I suspect you would be much happier that way.
From Manitok’s comments and from what I remember of her, she is definitely no equal and not one that should be aspired too. However, the Queen was a role model. someone who could be admired and definitely to look up to and to be aspired.
Without abolition of the monarchy, reconciliation is impossible. The monarchy should have been abolished the moment that Canada became an independent country. That a foreign monarchy still rules over this Indigenous land is the continuation of the same old colonialist mindset that has plagued this land since Europeans first arrived.
No reconciliation without abolition.
You need to re-read the constitution. The British Crown doesn’t rule over anything. The British Crown’s power and authority in Canada are symbolic whereas real political power lies 100% with our Parliament and MPs
If that is the situation, then I am okay with no reconciliation – your choice. Throwing away much of our history and tradition for every bothered minority group that comes down the road is insane.
And now you’ve got a problem, ‘ cause those Canadians who do oppose abolition are not ‘Europeans’ but your countrymen.
What a can of worms, eh?
Foreign monarch ‘rules’????
As anyone who has been through middle school Social Studies will tell you – our monarch does not rule.
That takes much of the air out of your argument.
Reconciliation is not a one way street, you don’t get to demand that we change our culture. Sorry, but not interested.
The complete depravity of education on the Queen and monarchy is readily apparent in these comments. The tribalism and corresponding division being manufactured through this cultural war needs to end.
Everyone is so upset over colonizers and the queen… but not upset enough to turn down the money with her face on it….