The race is on for top jobs at NTI in December 13 vote

SEAN McKIBBON and MICHAELA RODRIGUE

IQALUIT— The race for the top two executive positions in NTI has officially begun, with 10 Nunavut beneficiaries declaring their candidacy.

There are six people vying to become president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

Candidates for the top position include incumbent president Jose Kusugak, former president Paul Quassa, as well as ITC president Okalik Eegeesiak, former MLA Rebecca Mike of Iqaluit, Leonard Natsek of Coral Harbour and Cathy Towtongie of Rankin Inlet.

In the race for second vice president, the candidates are Paul Emingak of Pelly Bay, Joseph Kaludjak of Rankin Inlet, incumbent Raymond Ningeocheak of Rankin Inlet, and Koonoo Tattuinee of Arviat.

Incumbent proud of record

Incumbent NTI president Jose Kusugak says people only have to survey his time in office to know why they should vote for him.

“I think at this time Nunavut Tunngavik and the people Nunavut Tunngavik represents need stability— which we have right now.”

Kusugak used the recent annual general meeting in Iqaluit as an example.

Kusugak said that people were worried delegates would get drunk and ruin the meeting.

“People were scared that the AGM was going to be held in Iqaluit because of the bars.”

But unfortunate incidents didn’t happen, he said.

“Everybody went to the meeting. Anybody who was going to be late would call me ahead of time. I think that’s the kind of stability people are hoping for,” Kusugak said.

He also said that he has been able to accomplish a great deal as president of NTI.

“Name something that contributed socially and I’ve been there,” Kusugak said, ticking off programs such as hunters’ support, the elders’ pension and the implementation of the land claim.

He said he has established a good rapport with NTI staff and with other beneficiary organizations.

However, Kusugak said there is more work to be done on implementing the land claim agreement. He said articles dealing with Inuit employment have to be more strictly enforced.

He also said the federal government must enact supporting legislation that recognizes the roles of institutions of public government, and he said NTI has to get the federal government to interpret the land claim agreement in a consistent way.

“Every time we get somebody in there who understands it, they do a cabinet shuffle,” he said. Along with educating federal ministers and bureaucrats, NTI also has to work with the Nunavut government to get the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement taught to high school students.

“I’ve never been one to leave a job unfinished and this job isn’t finished yet,” said Kusugak.

While Kusugak cited his experience and accomplishments as reasons for beneficiaries to vote for him, his rivals felt they had strengths of their own that would make them good candidates for the position.

Contenders want improvements

But for the other candidates, Kusugak’s record isn’t so rosy.

“We have not benefited from the Nunavut agreement to the full extent. For example, Article 24,” said presidential hopeful Cathy Towtongie.

Towtongie pointed to high unemployment rates amongst Inuit compared to low unemployment rates amongst non-Inuit.

“I would put our people to work. We must have a workforce that reflects our population base,” she said.

She also said loopholes in the land claim agreement need to be tightened up. “There are loopholes. Non-Inuit businesses are using Inuit names as a front,” she said.

But to tighten up those loopholes, she says she must first get elected and then look at all the options. She said Article 24 of the land claim agreement is scheduled to be reviewed after 20 years, but she says that maybe NTI should start studying it now.

Towtongie that, if elected, she would conduct a comparative analysis with other land claim agreements to come up with some options.

Towtongie also cited her education as one of her chief assets.

“I have tried to get my education and I want to use my education to help Inuit, all men, women and children, not the selected few.”

Towtongie has completed a native law program at the University of Saskatoon, has her Grade 12 diploma, a municipal administration certificate and has studied native management. She was also elected as ITC’s secretary-treasurer in the 1970s. She now owns a small fabric store.

If elected she said she would work closely with the Nunavut government to ensure the land claim is implemented fully. She said the land claim gives NTI the necessary tools but she said it will take time.

“My legendary Eskimo patience will help me through,” she said. “I’m determined to push it through,”

She described the leadership since the last election as “laid back.”

“The current leadership should be working like dogs,” she said.

Eegeesiak: concentrate on land claim

Okalik Eegeesiak said NTI has done a lot of work, but in the past five years it has concentrated on the demands of the fledgling Nunavut government. She said NTI has been accommodating Nunavut government needs.

If elected as NTI president, she said she would focus on the agreement and the Nunavut government’s responsibilities. “I’d like to ensure the government lives up to the spirit of the agreement.”

“They’ve been addressing Nunavut government issues, they should be reminding the Nunavut government about the land claims agreement and asking what they’re going to do about it. The Nunavut government seems to be going away from hiring Inuit first. We should be playing an advocacy role and asking the government to be accountable,” Eegeesiak said.

Eegeesiak pointed to NTI’s shadow cabinet and asked “where has that gone?”

She also said she has all the necessary qualifications for the job.

“I’m one of the best candidates to do the job,” said Eegeesiak. “I’ve got the best combination of skills. Political skills, management and organizational skills. The regions will agree that I seek direction from the communities.”

She says she rebuilt ITC’s credibility by increasing education of what ITC is doing. “The federal government knows that we’re there,” Eegeesiak said.

Other candidates could not be reached for comment.

The chief electoral officer for the NTI election, former MLA John Ningark, said there were no disqualified nominations.

Voters’ lists to be posted

A list of eligible NTI voters should be posted in each community. Any Nunavut land claim beneficiary who is at least 16 years of age by election day should check to make sure that their name is on the voters’ list, he said.

Ningark has four district returning officers beneath him. The district returning officers in turn appoint deputy returning officers in each community.

If a person’s name is not on a list they should ask their local returning officer to contact the local enrollment committee secretary, Ningark said. A beneficiary must apply for the right to vote with the enrollment committee.

“If the person is not on the enrollment list and did not apply, then they will not be able to vote. That’s what I was told,” he said.

While election day is Dec. 13, an advance poll will be conducted Dec. 6, Ningark said. He believes every community will have an advance poll. Eligible voters can also vote by proxy, he said.

Voters with any questions should contact their local deputy returning officer.