Pauktuutit silent on apparent leadership change
Website lists Laisa Audlaluk-Watsko as interim board chairperson, after Looee Mike was named to post 1 month ago
Laisa Audlaluk-Watsko, left, is now listed as Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada’s interim board chairperson, apparently replacing Looee Mike who was appointed to that position on Oct. 7. The organization has not announced or commented on the leadership change. (File photos by Jeff Pelletier and courtesy of Catherine Whittaker/ Inuit Women of Canada)
One month after naming Looee Mike as its new board chairperson, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada’s website now lists Laisa Audlaluk-Watsko as the organization’s interim board chairperson.
The organization has not announced a formal leadership change, though, and on Wednesday the Pauktuutit board declined to comment on the update.
Pauktuutit is a national organization that advocates for the rights, safety and well-being of Inuit women, children and gender-diverse Inuit across the country through policy development, research and partnerships, and supports business development for women.
On Oct. 7, Mike — who is from Pangnirtung and had served as vice-chairperson since October 2024 — was appointed as its new board chairperson, succeeding Nancy Etok. It also named Audlaluk-Watsko, from Grise Fiord, as vice-chairperson following a regular board meeting.
The website of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami also notes the apparent change in leadership at Pauktuutit, identifying Audlaluk-Watsko as Pauktuutit’s interim board chairperson and one of three non-voting representatives on the ITK board, a position traditionally held by the Pauktuutit chairperson.
No subsequent announcement regarding a leadership change has been issued by Pauktuutit, which directed Nunatsiaq News to refer to its website for information.
Nunatsiaq News contacted Mike, but she said she’s unable to comment as the matter is being dealt with by lawyers.
The quiet transition has drawn concern from Inuit advocates seeking more transparency in organizational leadership.
Tara Tootoo Fotheringham, president of Amautiit Nunavut Inuit Women’s Association, criticized what she described as silence coming from national organizations.
Amautiit is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing self-determination for Inuit women and families across Nunavut.
“It makes you wonder what’s happening behind the scenes when so many people are calling them out,” Tootoo Fotheringham said in an interview Nov. 4.
Her comments follow an unrelated upheaval at the Manitoba Inuit Association, which recently removed its CEO Nastania Mullin and subsequently launched an independent, investigation following allegations by some women against Mullin of harassment and sexual abuse.
Mullin has not responded to numerous requests for comment by Nunatsiaq News. He has not been charged with a crime, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
The Manitoba Inuit Association has not disclosed the identity of its new interim CEO or said which third-party organization will lead the investigation.
“What worries me most is that [the association] remains silent, even after a large petition and four weeks of calls for action. [And] Pauktuutit has also stayed silent,” Fotheringham said.
Why the secrecy?
Maybe because it goes against their narrative and for what this organization stands for?
Or maybe they’re just incompetent.
Odd how the Manifold Inuit Association was, or is, under a microscope and deservedly.
Shenanigans, which are recent in Pauktuutit are kept quiet.
Staff resigning after short stints and so on. No explanation. Just…”We have the right to remain silent…”
What’s up Pauktuutit?
Seems to be a lot of double standards that go on, if you get get rid of someone based on allegations that is a slippery slope to go down on, with no evidence or no courts to prove the allegations the organizations better have a good lawyer, wrongful dismissal and defamation of character could lead to some expensive litigation.
How far will one go or an organization go based on allegations?
Now with this one it seems to be a bit more simpler with just a leadership change which the board can do by votes from each board member. It’s not a dismissal based on allegations.
Hopefully this inuitmetoo movement will include everyone, I’ve had some really terrible experiences with some leaders in my time and they all come in different shapes and forms.
My hats off to this group for acting swiftly.
Now if we could only do the same at the GN level, some of the leadership at the GN need changes, some of the DMs ADMs, we can’t get anything done constructively anymore with our government.
What went around will go around and will crash someday as well on this appointment
Sad
One quick look at previous Facebook posts by Looee Mike would tell you why she has been removed from this role. I suspect she has them all deleted now though. Organizations should do better jobs before appointing individuals to influential positions. Also feel that the organization does have an obligation to be forthcoming when changes to leadership are made although realize legalities of this can lead to delays as things are navigated.
Unrelated upheaval? Nope it’s all related! Laisa and Louee backed up MIA CEO and removed Nikki. It was all a plan. That backfired on them all. Pauktuutit needs to reinstate Nikki, she is the ONLY person who can fix all that mess and she did so many amazing things in the short time she was there. Non of those religious boardpeople wanted to hear the truth and Nikki spoke the truth and got let go. Instead the two board members took MIA CEOs bs story. Soooo ridiculous. Pauktuutit does NOT represent me. #reinstateNikkinow!