Obed retains post at helm of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Representatives from Inuit organizations cast votes Thursday in Cambridge Bay
Natan Obed remains president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami after a vote among Inuit delegates in Cambridge Bay Thursday. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Natan Obed will get a fourth term as president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami after winning a vote among delegates Thursday in Cambridge Bay.
The national Inuit organization announced the results overnight Thursday in a news release. Obed, originally from Nain, Labrador, had one opponent in the race — former CBC North managing editor Kevin Kablutsiak.
Representatives of Inuit organizations across Canada were in the Kitikmeot community this week for ITK’s annual general meeting.
Thirteen people were eligible to vote.
They included two representatives each from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., representing Inuit in Nunavut; Makivvik Corp., representing Nunavik; Inuvialuit Regional Corp., representing N.W.T.; and Nunatsiavut Government, representing Labrador.
Herb Nakimayak was also given a ballot after he was appointed Wednesday to two roles: president of Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada and vice-president of ITK.
Also eligible to cast votes were Duane Smith, chairperson and CEO of Inuvialuit Regional Corp.; Jeremy Tunraluk, president of NTI; Johannes Lampe, president of Nunatsiavut Government; and Pita Aatami, president of Makivvik Corp.
ITK did not say how the votes were split.
Obed, who has served as president of ITK since 2015, was sworn in Thursday and officially closed the annual general meeting.
His term will last four years.
I think he has done well for ITK and Inuit Nunangat, however, he needs to bring back the Inukness of the office. ITK has lost its roots of being an Inuit office. When I pop in I feel like an outsider now which is very different from prior to Natan’s tenure.
Bring that back Natan, use your charismatic approach you have given to Feds and include that to very people you represent so they feel welcome and home in a foreign soil.
What does Inukness even mean.
Boy. It never ends.
That is the name of the game being in public figure, IT DOES NOT END!
Define ‘inukness’.
Qualified inuit applicants not being hired over non inuit applicants, seen it over and over with ITK over the years.
That’s cause they peak English, the language that the rest of the world uses, Maybe that’s why? or someone else had more years or more education??? so many factors to consider not to sure on which one to pick, can you help me?
Not the correct decision.
Does this leader of an impoverished people really make $350,000 a year?
@ Danny Diddler
ICC DOES NOT….. I repeat “DOES NOT” represent “people”.
It represents Inuit organizations. The Inuit have zero input who is chosen to head the entity.
Does our Prime Minister make how much? And he’s Prime Minister of impoverished people? The CEO of The North West Company makes how much? And he sells food to impoverished people? Our territorial premier makes how much? And they’re premier to impoverished people? How much do they all make? How much do the transient Newfoundlanders make in Nunavut? And they work amongst impoverished people? Sorry, where do we stop? I forget
“INUKNESS”: Inuit qualities include strong responsibility, kindness, compassion, and friendliness, fostering a culture of sharing and community support. Their history of survival in harsh Arctic conditions has instilled qualities of endurance, patience, practicality, discipline, resilience, and adaptability. Deep respect for the environment, all living beings, and the importance of community cohesion are also core to Inuit values, which are passed down through oral tradition and wisdom known as Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ).
No plan of any kind to give inuit the power to elect . Just saying .
How can people win an election when Inuit from Nunavut don’t even know there was an election?
It’s crazy that this guy can get 300k/ year salary when majority of inuit don’t even know what’s happening! Thus guy can’t even speak inuktitut too!
A good part of the reason his salary is so inflated is exactly this, lack of checks, balances and accountability.
It’s not just Nunavut, Inuvialuit, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut.