People of Nunavik losing faith in democracy

There have been several letters written in regard to the Makivik Corp. election that was held in March between Adamie Alaku and Mary Simon, who were vying for the Vice President of Economic Development seat.

I will not continue that debate, however, I would like to bring up another matter in regard to the election process. Before I begin, I would like to be clear that this is my own opinion and I was not influenced by anyone. I simply want to practice my right to express my own opinion, since it is allowed by the Charter of Rights of Canada.

It is my opinion that Nunavimmiut have a lack of interest in democracy in Nunavik.

It is evident in the statistics. Out of a possible 5,288 eligible voters, all beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, only 2,230 – less than half of the eligible voters – 42 per cent, came out to cast ballots.

The definition in The Oxford Dictionary of Current English of Democracy: (1a) government by the whole population, usually through elected representatives; (1b) a state so governed; (2) a classless and tolerant society, from the Greek, demokratia, rule of the people.

It is my impression that the people of Nunavik have not been given the opportunity for social equality. I believe that unless a majority of the eligible voters are given the chance to rightfully choose a representative, any election with a voter turnout less than 51 per cent must have a re-election, to truthfully know who they elected to represent them.

How else can we restore our faith in democracy?

If we are going to have self-government, then the democratic process must be put into practice. I feel that many people, especially young people, have lost their faith in democracy in Nunavik.

Many seem to be afraid to express their true opinions and in the process have no interest in practicing their electoral rights. We have only been eligible to vote as recognized citizens of Canada for a little more than a quarter of a century. Why is there no interest?

Like everything else, there are rules, proper ways of debating and proper ways of campaigning. Comments that are made during the week of elections must be controlled, especially if they are intended to harm a candidate’s character and their chances of winning any election, such as ad hominen attacks.

For example (taken from www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ad-hominem.html):

Description of Ad Hominem

Translated from Latin to English, “ad hominem” means “against the man” or “against the person.”

Ad hominem arguments are a general category of fallacies in which a claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the author or the person presenting the claim or argument. Typically, this fallacy involves two steps.

First, an attack against the character of person making the claim, her circumstances, or her actions is made (or the character, circumstances, or actions of the person reporting the claim).

Second, this attack is taken to be evidence against the claim or argument the person in question is making (or presenting). This type of “argument” has the following form:

1. Person A makes claim X.
2. Person B makes an attack on person A.
3. Therefore A’s claim is false.

The reason why an ad hominem argument of any kind is a fallacy is that the character, circumstances, or actions of a person do not (in most cases) have a bearing on the truth or falsity of the claim being made (or the quality of the argument being made.)

Example of Ad Hominem

1. Bill: “I believe that abortion is morally wrong.”

Dave: “Of course you would say that, you’re a priest.”

Bill: “What about the arguments I gave to support my position?”

Dave: “Those don’t count. Like I said, you’re a priest, so you have to say that abortion is wrong. Further, you are just a lackey to the Pope, so I can’t believe what you say.”

I realize that we are thrust into two cultures, our own as Natives and that of the qallunaat or non-natives, but if we want to govern ourselves in a modern society, then we should practice the proper ways of having a democratic society.

I am in no way ungrateful for all that is being done to make our self-government a reality.

It must be a difficult task to have all the pressures of the people’s needs and try to put them into perspective, nevertheless I still believe that no one should abuse their power for their personal interests.

Christine Nakoolak
Kuujjuaq