Radicalism, internet and faith: Tagak Curley takes Proust Questionnaire

Tagak Curley is often referred to as one of Nunavut’s founding fathers.

He calls himself a “radical” — one of the first who believed Nunavut should stand on its own, separate from N.W.T. — which he saw through by helping to negotiate the Nunavut Agreement.

A founding member of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (then known as Inuit Tapirisat of Canada) in 1971, Curley went on to become a Nunavut MLA and territorial cabinet minister.

“My reputation continues that I’m a radical,” he said from his home in Rankin Inlet. “But I will never apologize, because I represent our ancient people.”

He’s also an avid hunter and a true believer that navigating in the tundra is not for “pussycats.”

“It’s for tough guys who understand and are able to read the climate,” he said.

Now retired, 80-year-old Curley recently took time to answer the Proust Questionnaire.

What’s your greatest fear?

I think one of the things that I fear is that we could lose our identity and lose respect for each other due to some aspects of the worldwide internet service.

The united way of life has impacted us quite a lot and to be honest with you, in a negative way, in my view. People lost connection with their parents. It separates families.

What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

I think there’s no such thing. I think we must be content with our lives.

Which living person do you most admire?

They are disappearing. I had an active connection with people like Charlie Watt.

We were early pioneers of Inuit movement, so Charlie and I had a good relationship privately and personally, and that has continued, even though we communicate less now.

Which living person do you most despise?

I don’t really want to commit to that. I don’t hold grudges with individuals. I try not to do that.

I don’t have any enemies, that I could say. My faith is to honour and respect anybody.

What is your greatest achievement?

I don’t keep track of them.

What I’m satisfied with is what I advocated for — the early start of Inuit movement, which was very difficult before the land claim organizations were formed.

I was able to create a discussion about division from N.W.T. Most people thought I was crazy, but the debate did happen.

And the actual division did happen. Am I happy about that? Am I happy about achieving that? Yes. Because if you don’t have a lead person leading an idea continually, even in the wilderness times, the idea will die. I made sure it would never die until it’s achieved.

What is your greatest regret?

Publicly, I don’t think I could say anything because, as I said, I’m content.

It’s not personal, but when I see the younger generation and all the drugs and alcohol destroying their lives, I’m disappointed continually that people are trapped, and suicide eventually is part of the root problem of that now.

Where would you like to live?

I will not move out of Nunavut and likely not out of Rankin Inlet.

Once you’re in front of God, what would you tell him?

Well, a lot. First thing I’d tell him is thank him and ask to have a day that is a blessing to others.

I don’t want it to be just a blessing to me and my family only.

Nunatsiaq News is borrowing the old Proust Questionnaire parlour game to get to know people who are in the news. If you know someone in your community who our readers should get to know by taking this questionnaire, let us know by email: editors@nunatsiaq.com.