Pita Aatami was respectful to Mary Simon

I want to respond to the letter from Sarah Airo of Kuujjuaq that appeared in the April 2, 2004 issue of your newspaper.

I listened to some of the radio-broadcasted portions of Makivik Corporation’s annual general meeting, and I too heard the exchange that Ms. Airo refers to, between Makivik’s president, Pita Aatami, and Mary Simon, who was running for the seat of vice-president responsible for economic development.

I beg to differ in my reaction to it and in my opinion on the matters she raises in her letter.

First of all: of course it is not in the Inuit tradition to be unwelcoming towards other Inuit. That is a fact.

However, that is not what happened to Mary Simon when she had questions for the Nunavik negotiators at the Makivik AGM. In fact, Mary, in her reaction, obviously perceived that that was what happened and it quickly became evident that she felt she needed to go on the defensive.

I feel that the negotiators, Minnie Grey, Harry Tulugak and Maggie Emudluk, would have had no choice but to allow Pita Aatami, or any other executive member for that matter, to answer self-government questions if Pita feels compelled to do so. He is, after all, the president of the corporation and they work for the corporation. In other words, he is their boss.

I, personally, have not ever heard any elected representative accusing anyone of not wanting self-government. What I have heard are elected representatives telling concerned citizens that they should try and hear the message that they are trying to convey to them instead of insisting on being negative before understanding the entire message.

How do we know everyone will vote at the end? The question, “Do we want self-government?” has already been asked and answered. Makivik, and the Northern Quebec Inuit Association before it, have been striving for it all along. In fact, they have only been trying to replace what was so wrongfully taken from the Inuit not much more than a century ago – self-determination.

Who is talking of surrendering rights once again? That road was already taken. What Makivik is trying to do is exactly to achieve a form of government that welcomes Inuit concerns, comments, discussions and debates.

I, for one, was shocked when Mary Simon, who was a candidate for a position on the Makivik executive and not holding a seat at the table, responded in the manner in which she did to the chair of the meeting, Pita Aatami. He commented on the fact that Mary has not been a resident of Nunavik for many years and he could understand that because of that fact why she would feel compelled to ask the questions she was asking. That was all he said.

Actually, Nunavik Governor Tommy Cain did intervene at that point and told both Pita and Mary that they should remember to keep their comments in perspective.

I don’t see how that this showed that the president did not support or respect Mary in running or being elected. Actually, the president has absolutely no say about any eligible candidate running for or being elected to any position. That “say” belongs to the electorate. I also don’t see how the exchange interfered with the process.

Actually, that Pita did congratulate Mary for her efforts and accomplishments was gracious on his part, under the circumstances. I don’t think that Mary was not welcome anymore; she just lost her election, that’s all.

Many comments, and some worse than others, have been made to the president, I’m sure, but again it all comes back to the nature of Qallunaat-originated processes coming into play with traditional Inuit ways, you know?

Kudos, where it’s due, to Mary for everything she has achieved and everything she has done for Nunavik. I don’t think Mary intended to intimidate. I don’t think anyone was intimidated either.

It is unfortunate that Mary got so upset by Pita’s comments. Everything he said had validity. It was a little disappointing, even unnerving, to listen to someone with such credibility respond or react in such a manner.

There is no existing way to measure experience. Each person’s is unique to themselves. Measuring accomplishments, well, that again is an exercise that does not come naturally with the Inuit since Inuit have not traditionally done such measurements in that way.

I am sorry for your disappointment, since she has done tremendous work. The fact that she is a woman and has dedicated her whole life to Inuit all over the north should not discredit the dedication of all the men who have done the same.

If Mary losing her election has cost us the chance to see what she has to offer us then does that mean that a woman of her credentials will not or cannot find other ways to contribute to or serve for the betterment of the lives of her fellow Inuit?

(Name withheld by request)
Kuujjuaq