TV expert seeks active political role

PATRICIA D’SOUZA

During the 1999 territorial election, Millie Kuliktana of Kugluktuk sat on a panel of bright Nunavummiut providing commentary and analysis for CBC TV coverage of the vote.

At the time, she harboured her own dreams of one day standing among those up and coming politicians, and it was being part of that panel of experts that made her realize that she should take some action.

“I thought, why am I waiting until I turn older?”

Now, as she turns 40 (her birthday is on Feb. 7), Kuliktana has decided the time is right to test her chances.

“I heard from young people that I am a voice for the young people,” she said in an interview this week from her home in Kugluktuk.

She’s hoping that support will help her topple the incumbent, Donald Havioyak, in this month’s vote.

In 1999, Havioyak won by just six votes, with 200 to Ida Ayalik-McWilliam’s 194. Stanley Anablak took 125 votes, while Kevin Niptanatiak took 50.

Some Kitikmeot residents are already calling for Kuliktana to be the next minister of education.

As executive director of Kitikmeot School Operations, she’s possibly the most qualified for the job of any of the 82 candidates across Nunavut.

She began working as a classroom assistant in Kugluktuk about 20 years ago, eventually becoming an elementary and then a high school teacher. She has been a program support teacher and an education consultant, and principal of a school in Igloolik.

She realizes her background in education makes her a likely candidate for the top job in education, and said she would welcome the opportunity to serve, that is, if there is no one more qualified.

“I would be interested in that [becoming education minister] if there isn’t anyone with further skills than I have,” she said.

Havioyak, 53, was chosen by his fellow MLAs to be a cabinet minister shortly after the last election, and was assigned the culture, language, elders and youth portfolio by the premier.

But after about a year, he resigned his cabinet seat to spend more time in his home community.

“I want to inform you that I am resigning so that I can focus more on the problems that we have in my community,” he said at the time.

And if he is elected this time around, he said he would not accept a cabinet post, in part because of the extra time cabinet ministers have to spend in Iqaluit, and also, he said, because he was unhappy with some cabinet decisions.

“When you’re a cabinet minister, your constituents aren’t really hearing what you’re doing in the House,” he said in a telephone interview this week.

“Some issues [cabinet decisions] I’m not happy with have happened. [As a regular MLA], people would hear me and I’d get more support.”

And as a regular MLA, Havioyak said he’s proud of his accomplishments, including securing facilities for youth and elders, and an ice project.

He also wants to continue fighting for support for Inuinnaqtun.

“The Inuinnaqtun language is very weak in the area. It needs promoting more and more, and more materials. The Kitikmeot Inuit Association and government should put something together and make use of our Inuinnaqtun language. The federal government should be doing the same thing,” he said.

As the vice-president of KIA, Joe Allen Evyaotailak Sr., 50, also sees ways the Inuit organization can work with government.

The former HTO president, hamlet councillor, mayor and deputy mayor says he wants to work for the people of his community.

“I work to try and help everybody out,” he said in an interview this week.

“We’re not telling the young people about education enough, and the parents and leaders are not communicating with the young people who are not in school. Parents cannot do it alone. The whole community has to work together,” he said.

Evyaotailak said that he grew up seeing his elders helping others, and quickly learned that that’s the way he wants to live as well.

“That’s how I like to work and that’s why I have been successful.”