Resolute Bay students honour ‘Father of Nunavut’ through reconciliation project

Former Nunavut leader John Amagoalik is the subject of a research project created by Grade 6 and 8 students at Resolute Bay’s Qarmartalik School. (Photo courtesy of Rhonda McKenzie)

Jake Amarualik wants to know if it was difficult to create Nunavut.

He’s one of six Grade 6 and 8 Qarmartalik School students in Resolute Bay who studied the life and legacy of former leader John Amagoalik, one of the territory’s founders, for a class project.

Their research sparked more questions about Amagoalik’s life and work, which Nunatsiaq News posed to the Father of Nunavut himself, Wednesday during an interview at Embassy West Senior Living in Ottawa.

“When we travelled across the country to talk about the creation of Nunavut during that time, it was difficult at first,” Amagoalik said in answer to Amarualik’s question.

“Sometimes we had a hard time breaking through and there was some asperity in parts of the country …But we regarded the process as learning from each other’s side and that is how progress is made.”

Students Desiree Kalluk and Bruce Idlout wondered whether government officials listened to or respected Inuit leaders. 

“At that time, our country was supportive of our efforts but they seem to have become lax,” Amagoalik said. “We’ll have to prepare for another trip across the country to remind the people that we’re here and our language is still vibrant.”

Originally developed around National Day for Truth and Reconciliation last fall, the project explores Amagoalik’s role in the creation of Nunavut and such periods in Inuit history as High Arctic relocations and residential schools.

Amagoalik and his family were forcibly relocated to Resolute Bay from Nunavik in 1953.

Over the course of his career, he chaired the Nunavut Implementation Commission, served two terms as president of Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (now called Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami), and helped negotiate the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

“I really want [my students] to know that somebody worked hard for them to be able to get here, and for us to be able to have Nunavut at all,” said teacher Rhonda McKenzie in an interview over Zoom.

“John was not alone in this work, but he stood at the frontlines,” she added in an email.

The display recognizes Amagoalik as the Father of Nunavut, a title he said he accepts with pride.

“I feel it gives me confidence in my work. The whole territorial population has been behind this work and if they want to call me Father of Nunavut, I’m proud of it,” he said. 

McKenzie said the class plans to continue highlighting other Inuit leaders and elders, including Tagak Curley, Zebedee Nungak, Charlie Watt, Abe Okpik, Piita Irniq and Mumilaaq Qaqqaq.

The 78-year-old, who also had a chance to see the project, said he was touched by the students’ efforts to learn about the creation of Nunavut.

“You don’t see these things every day,” he said, pointing at the students’ drawings of him. “It makes you feel proud of how young people are reacting to this. Nothing like this happens, except in hockey.”

Amagoalik returned to Iqaluit, a city he called home for 50 years, on Friday after a 16-month stay at Embassy West. But he said he’d like to someday make another visit to the place he grew up.

“Resolute has always had a place in my heart,” Amagoalik said. “I would like to go back one more time to see how things are doing up there.”