Remembering the late Muati Qitsualik

I got news today that Muati Qitsualik died this morning (July 7).

As I sat there thinking about Muati, all sorts of memories came rushing back — the great late-night calls from somewhere on the other side of the river, when I would hear Muati’s voice.

She was a character. How sad to realize that there will be no more late calls from my dear friend. I wanted especially to publicly remember some of Muati’s tremendous contributions in the work leading to the creation of Nunavut, the Nunavut land claims agreement, and all of its appendages.

Muati was a very gifted communicator who interpreted and translated throughout the land claims process so successfully that you would forget that the little voice in your head-set was not your conscience speaking, but Muati interpreting for you.

I especially felt this impulse to write you because living in Ottawa, I quite often run into Qallunaat wearing something that identifies them with Nunavut. When I inquire, they often tell me their personal stories about how they helped create Nunavut.

From my vantage point (albeit a narrow one from the backrooms of some of the Inuit organizations that were involved in the negotiations), I thought I knew a lot of the weavers of that creation. For sure, without question, I have learned over the years that there are some people who never would take credit, but are deserving of recognition.

Muati is one of those persons. I remember when all the back-slapping was going on when Nunavut came into being, I was thrilled to read one of John A.’s Little Corner articles that took the time to identify and acknowledge the amazing interpreting and translating by Muati, Betty Brewster, Martha Flaherty, and Mary Nashook in that process.

He recognized their tremendous achievements that for the most part, among many, were taken for granted or worse still, unnoticed. For all those unilingual Qallunaat or Inuit on both sides of the negotiating table, Muati was our guide and lifeline. Muati was always professional, never letting her own politics get in the way of her job.

Her ability to translate the nuances of legalese, Inuktitut and Qallunaatitut, always kept me in awe. She was brilliant and stayed with the process from beginning to end — and then some. Many came and went through the doors of the land claims business, but Muati was always close by through it all.

She patiently persisted with the inconsistencies and incongruities of the English language, especially the legalese, until she was satisfied it was right. She was committed to excellence. Although she probably would not have described her work this way, watching her work and working with her, you could see it was a labour of love.

Muati had a real presence that was an asset during land claims negotiations. She was someone the federal government negotiators were always keen to keep happy.

I think it would be fair to say Muati did not suffer fools gladly. I remember when I first encountered Muati, she scared the hell out of me.

I soon began to see that behind that stern look of hers, was a gentle, loving soul that cared tremendously about Inuit. She was committed to social justice. Despite the many battles fought in the struggles to achieve this, she stayed the course.

Muati was much more than the whispering voice in my head. She is someone I respect and care for deeply.

How sad to realize that voice is now silenced. Taima.

Mary Crnkovich
Ottawa