Two vie for leadership of Inuit lobby group

KIRSTEN MURPHY

Pitseolak Pfeifer and Robert Watt have announced their bids to become the next president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK). The election is scheduled for June 12 at ITK’s annual general meeting in Puvirnituq. The president’s position is a three-year term.

Outgoing president Jose Kusugak is not running.

Pfeifer is the former vice-president of operations and chief executive officer of the Qikiqtaaluk Corp. He has served on the board of the Iqaluit District Education Authority, the Nunatta Sunnakkutaangit Museum and Nunasi Corp.

He is currently the president of Inuit Solutions Inc., a management consulting company specializing in aboriginal and intergovernmental affairs.

Robert Watt was born and raised in Kuujjuaq and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba.

He founded the translator and interpreter training program for the Kativik School Board’s adult education department. Watt has worked as a public health agent for the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services and as a coordinator for Nunavik’s Nutrition and Health committee.

He is currently the director of the Ajunnginiq Centre of the National Aboriginal Health Organization.

He is also the son of Liberal Senator and national Inuit leader Charlie Watt.