Johnny Appaqaq, right, is sworn-in as Sanikiluaq’s new mayor on Friday after hamlet council voted to appoint him instead of holding a byelection. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)
Sanikiluaq swears in new mayor
Former mayor Masako Kittosuk, 18, resigns to pursue college studies
Sanikiluaq has a new mayor, just seven months after electing its youngest-ever mayor Masako Kittosuk in the 2023 municipal election.
Johnny Appaqaq was sworn-in as mayor on Friday at the hamlet office. The local council decided to appoint a new mayor from its membership rather than hold a byelection, interim senior administrative officer Mike Rowan said by phone on Monday.
A post from the hamlet on the Sanikiluaq community Facebook page Friday shows Appaqaq being sworn in by an RCMP officer.
Rowan said three people submitted their names hoping to be appointed mayor, and that Appaqaq was chosen by a vote on Thursday.
Masako Kittosuk, shown at the Nunavut Association of Municipalities annual general meeting in Iqaluit in November, is no longer mayor of Sanikiluaq after resigning earlier this month to pursue college studies. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Appaqaq takes over the hamlet’s top elected role from Kittosuk, who submitted her resignation on April 16.
While other Nunavut municipalities went to the polls last Oct. 23, Sanikiluaq’s election was delayed because no candidates initially stepped up to run for mayor. When the election was finally held Oct. 30, Kittosuk won a two-way race collecting 81 of the 120 votes cast.
In an interview Monday, Kittosuk, 18, said she decided to step down as mayor because she wants to attend college. She hopes to study Indigenous issues at a school in Winnipeg next year.
Kittosuk, who continued to work full-time at the Northern store while serving as mayor, said it was difficult to prepare for school while she was balancing two jobs.
She “100 per cent” has more time to pursue school now that she’s resigned, she said, but she did enjoy attending meetings as mayor.
Her decision to step down was entirely her own, she said.
She added, however, that she didn’t enjoy it when she would sometimes read anonymous posts on Facebook criticizing her for having two jobs while she was mayor.
“They’re not bothering anymore,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to going to college, I’m very excited.”
Just admit it…
“… having two jobs while she was mayor.”
Was Ms. Kittosuk attending high school, acting as Mayor of the hamlet, working full-time at the Northern AND holding down a part-time job?
How did she do it?
Being a mayor in nunavut is more symbolic than anything. Anyway, she tried it, didn’t like it, moved on. Hopefully she enjoys “a school in winnipeg” next year, heard its faculty is great.
She was finished high school
Youth energy; most of us old folks don’t that stuff anymore (hehe).
*Sigh*
Quitting after a few months, the most Nunavut thing ever.
The most Nunavut thing ever? I’ll bet its so hard for you to look beyond the negative outlook you wake up to every morning. When keyboard idiots like you comment such things, just shows how incapable you are of being apart of the solution.
Nunavummiut are trying extremely hard to break the stigma and re-shape our territory to a more mentally healthier place.
Make the comments all you want about Nunavut and the people who seek a safe foundation for themselves and their families, you still won’t take over the space we continue to reclaim.
Sadly, this is not how you break a stigma.
Do share your thoughts on breaking the stigma.
You persevere, even when its hard… You know yourself well enough not to put yourself in positions that are beyond your abilities, and don’t rely on wishful, magical thinking.
I wish Masako well, and I hope she succeeds, but am concerned at her ability to make it through higher education. You should reach out to her and offer her support throughout her studies. Or are you just another “keyboard idiot” too?
I commend you for sharing your thoughts and ideas.
There is concern with anyone pursuing higher education, especially Inuit who have to seek financial assistance on their own or work multiple jobs to just barely make enough money for tuition etc. I really truly wish her well, and everyone should.
I, am simply speaking the truth and from my own heart and like everyone on here, sharing an opinion. My opinion is that the people on here and other social platforms saying “the Most Nunavut thing ever”, or other deeply hurtful words, really should reconsider how they offer their opinions. it adds ZERO value to the constant uphill battle that Nunavummiut are faced with daily.
This specific platform continues to bottle up the un-desired opinions that will have no value in the future of our territory.
Inuit get free education and don’t need to work to pay their tuition– Problem is staff at FANS in arviat are incompetent and students often don’t get their fundings in time
Have witnessed people adopting kids and changed their minds quicker than this. Nunavut… if you don’t like it one day – make sure you give it up.
Good for her! Proud of her for putting herself out there and standing tall. It is HARD to lead in Nunavut nowadays with so many keyboard idiots.
She tried and she recognized where her priorities were. Shes young and full of energy! proud of her for stepping down willingly to further her education!!
Inuit women need to be encouraged and shown appreciation for all their hard work in our small communities.
Nunavut is just a little older than her, and she was courageous to step forward.
Actually, all young Nunavummiut should experience things like this to show what the work truly entails, understand the process and how demanding this work is, and then prepare themselves for the work by furthering their education!!
Best of luck!! No matter the outcome, i am rooting for you!!!
Amazing spin, you must be a journalist, or work in communications…
I don’t think “all young Nunavummiut should experience things like this” because we need political stability in Nunavut. Let’s save whimsical playtime for student council.
LOL
Three words for you….Summer Student Employment.
The way forward and guiding young Nunavummiut is to provide them an opportunity to see what the work entails, through work experience while they complete high school and continue on with our support to pursue further education to become qualified for demanding jobs such as a Mayor in a community.
And no, I am not in communications, I am just a motivated community member who loves to see other Inuit succeed and make the choice to further their education. Thanks though.
Okay cool, but we’re not talking about Summer Employment here, we’re talking about taking on the position of mayor. This is a serious commitment, treated with all the frivolity of a summer job, I’ll grant you that.
Understood 🙂
However, it was the experience I was referring to.
It is a serious commitment, absolutely. I couldn’t agree more. But in the Fall, not a lot of people of Sanikiluaq put their name forward.
I encourage you to understand, if possible, that not many communities have the same resources as Iqaluit or southern cities to obtain the necessary skills to hold such positions.
Some communities thrive more than others, yes, but this was an example that a small community like Sanikiluaq does require more training support and opportunities to further education and careers.
It is a very small community, anything is still possible.
I do appreciate that you do share hard realities, I hope that all youth understand the world is a tough tough place to live in and and must be taught and disciplined to face the world and its harsh realities.
I have no idea who this young person is however relying on facts alone it appears she has some goals. A mayor in a small community is not likely paid that well so to put in thee extra effort to hold down another paying job is commendable. Then quitting both to get higher education cannot be considered a flawed plan no matter the outcome. Trying to improve oneself is to be celebrated not criticized. Again not all facts are known of course but the facts of the story merit applause.
I strongly disagree. Quitting a few months into a 4 year term doesn’t appear like part of a commendable plan to me. I would applaud her if she fulfilled the commitment she made to the community when she ran for office, then went to school. I would suggest she would be more well prepared to succeed in her education with that experience behind her.
Conversely, it’s possible now she will have the gnawing sense in her mind that she might not be able to do hard things. The only thing she has shown herself here is that when things get hard she quits, that’s really not the ‘win’ you want to pretend it is.
This comment lol interesting.
She didn’t quit because it was hard. She was working two jobs and decided that furthering her education was more important.
Holding these positions are eye opening for young Inuit.
Shes paving the way by taking chances and showing that futhering education is extremely important.
But you are correct, this shit is hard! She resigned to continue building her foundation as a community leader. Be proud of her.
You keep pretending this is a win. I suspect many see it as another in a long line of frivolous ‘commitments’ that crumble quickly when it gets real, and it gets real fast, wouldn’t you agree?
Iqaluit is just as bad – maybe worse. Just look at the turnover in councilors (and even mayor) last term… how many actually completed their term? A bunch of surfers.
Municipal government is not a vanity project. If you fail to finish your term without a darn good reason you were either lying to yourself or lying to the community that elected you. You never should have run for office in the first place.
All that being said, I have a hard time blaming the former mayor. Sanikiluaq voters should not be surprised at such erratic behaviour from an 18 year old. She seems to have potential and I wish her well, but the community clearly needs to take this more seriously.
I never said anything about it being a ‘win’. Your words, not mine.
I 100% agree it gets real, very very fast. I’ve witnessed such realities. I’m certainly not trying to sweep this under the rug and pretend its not there.
Most of today’s young leaders unfortunately have to figure this stuff out without guidance and support from their own parents and figure life out on their own, grow up quicker than most of their classmates, which im sure is a reality in a lot of places in this world.
She tried, understood the assignment, decided on her own she needed to focus elsewhere, on her education. Commendable, no?
Living in Sanikiluaq where people belittled those who work in public places, all the shit they get, harassing them, shaming them especially on social media, constantly complaining as if they can do better when those who harass show their true colours.
At least this girl tried, she put herself out there and got voted, at least she tried.
Why didn’t you guys appoint counsel members as mayor in the first place? This step should have been the first. In the new world, when you want to do something. You stick to it right through to the end. Forget distractions. If you want to be mayor. You stick to it when becoming one. When you’re going to attend college, you stick to it with a part time or full time job. All contractors and employers do not like an employee showing up every second day. Just skows the progress of working.
Try and live in Sanikiluaq, you will see how people are just fighting, it’s embarrassing, nothing but vandalism, harassment, bullying until the person has enough.
Idk why you sani people try to talk crap or be a big shot. Especially in winnipeg. Idk why. Small but try act big and tough. Not my problem at all. Even a 4 foot guy tries to look scary and be scary against 5’10”. 100 pound versus 185 pound.
This is why it’s embarrassing!
See the Sanikiluaq announcement and announcement of Sanikiluaq and see what they post, nothing but complaints and belittling others.
Exactly why I moved out of the community to get away from drama.
To be honest, the same is true of most (all?) Nunavut communities. There are toxic elements in all communities, petty squabbles, generations old conflicts, and generally miserable people. Social media has fuelled this and made an already bad situation much worse.
She could finish college and go back and be mayor.
Been there done that been called names Council make dission mayor only figger head to control meetings