The candidates: Gjoa Haven

The name Gjoa Haven comes from Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen's boat, the Gjoa, which spent the winter in the community's harbour during his crossing of the Northwest Passage at the turn of the century. 

The Franklin expedition wrecks were discovered nearby in 2014 and 2016, and since then, tourism in the community has gone up. The two ships are well known for their part of the Franklin Expedition in 1845, in search of the Northwest Passage.

In the Nunavut legislature, issues raised from this constituency have included language loss, the cost of living, a chronic lack of mental health and health care resources, a high level of community violence and the need for more housing.

In this constituency Allen Aglukkaq, Gregory A. Nahaglulik, Paul Tunik Puqiqnak and Veronica Ullulaq are running against the incumbent Tony Akoak.

CBC has reached out to all candidates with a list of questions in Inuktut and English, as well as consulted candidates' own online campaign messages. The available information has been edited for length and clarity.

Tony Akoak (incumbent)

Tony Akoak was born in Sherman Inlet, located near the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line) station.

He was sent to residential school in Inuvik, N.W.T., as a five-year-old and later completed Grade 10 in Yellowknife.

Akoak, first elected to the legislature in 2013, was re-elected in 2017 to represent Gjoa Haven.

During the fifth Legislative Assembly's first sitting in 2017, Akoak was appointed to serve as a deputy chairperson of the committee of the whole, a position he also held in the fourth Legislative Assembly.

Before becoming MLA, Akoak worked with the Legal Services Board of Nunavut. He also held management positions with Arctic Co-operatives and worked as a community aerodrome radio station observer/communicator for 18 years. 

In the Nunavut legislature, Akoak has criticized state of his community's makeshift morgue.

He has also noted language loss, the cost of living, a chronic lack of mental health and health care resources, the high amount of community violence and the need for more housing.

Akoak has also brought up the generally poor state of the community's airport.

Gregory A. Nahaglulik

Gregory A. Nahaglulik went to high school in Yellowknife and has worked as a heavy equipment operator. He's also been active with the local food bank and search and rescue operations, and was the local fire chief for seven years.

On social media, Nahaglulik said he would like to make it easier for more single-family and larger houses to be built in Gjoa Haven.

Nahaglulik would also like to see the creation of a youth centre, a day centre for adults and a homeless shelter.

Also among his priorities are improving access to mental health services and addictions treatment, adding jobs and improving access to job training.

As well, Nahaglulik would like to ensure better local health care and more staff stability at the clinic's nursing station.

Paul Tunik Puqiqnak

Paul Tunik Puqiqnak was born in Yellowknife, but has lived in Gjoa Haven most of his life. After finishing high school in 2000, he graduated from a two-year recreation leaders program in Inuvik.

He's currently a recreation therapy worker at the continuing care centre in Gjoa Haven.

Puqinak has been involved with the local District Education Authority and has served on the hamlet council as deputy mayor and councillor for two years.

"I speak Inuktitut fairly well, I understand Inuktitut very well," he said, adding "to be honest, I am still learning to speak Inuktitut."

Lobbying for housing, youth needs, women's shelters and improving food security are high on his list of priorities.

"We are in a global pandemic and COVID-19 has changed the world we live in today. As MLA I would like to see each household get cleaning supplies to fight this terrible disease," Puqiqnak said.

"As MLA I will encourage Nunavummiut to get vaccinated, as well."

Veronica Ullulaq

Veronica Ullulaq, born in Cambridge Bay and raised in Gjoa Haven, said she has acquired lifelong skills working in various positions with the Nunavut government since 2004.

She currently works for the territorial Department of Justice

Ullulaq has volunteered as a counsellor to people in need, as well with Aboriginal Head Start and the Gjoa Haven Youth Committee.

Ullulaq said biggest issues facing her constituency include homelessness, mental health issues and a lack of housing. She says her constituency needs as a school bus and a bank branch.

For Ullulaq, the biggest issues Nunavut-wide include obtaining government funding and equal rights. 

Allen Aglukkaq

Allen Aglukkaq did not respond to CBC's questions.