Isaac Shooyook is facing 8 challengers, but says he's 'not done' as MLA
9 people, from aged 31 to 78, are vying to represent Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord and Resolute in Quttiktuq
Canada's northernmost constituency has the most candidates campaigning for a seat in this year's Nunavut territorial election.
Eight candidates are trying to unseat incumbent Isaac Shooyook, who during much of his tenure as Quttiktuq's MLA spoke of the importance of Inuit qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) — Inuit traditional knowledge — in governance.
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Last year, after his grandchild died by suicide, Shooyook pleaded with legislators to include traditional knowledge in its response to the territory's suicide crisis.
He says if re-elected, he'll continue that fight.
"I feel I'm not done my job. I'm not done," Shooyook said in Inuktitut.
"I want this to continue well and I enjoy it. It also helps me. That's my main concern why I'm running. I need to get the job done that I started."
David Akeeagok
The 48-year-old, who was born and raised in Grise Fiord, says he wants to take his experience in government and "turn it into action."
Akeeagok said education is high on his list of priorities. But on a constituency level, he wants to ease the cost of travel for people in Quttiktuq's three communities: Resolute Bay, Grise Fiord and Arctic Bay.
"Especially for families who want to travel up to this beautiful riding, it's very expensive and the food cost is very high," he said.
"We need to make it affordable to travel together. [Families] need to make a very difficult choice on buying a snowmobile, or going on holidays."
Akeeagok also acknowledged the important work Shooyook has done pushing the need for IQ in government, and said if he wins he'll continue the work Shooyook has done on that front.
Mishak Allurut
Allurut, a constituency assistant for Shooyook, wants to turn sharing country food into an economic development opportunity, which he says doesn't exist in Nunavut right now.
"Country food, as it stands now, we are able to share, even traditionally, we've been sharing food with friends and the community. But there needs to be economic part of that," he said, adding he wants to create a social enterprise as a Crown corporation of the Nunavut government.
"That would be my priority. To create a social enterprise so we can start trading and selling country food among communities."
The 55-year-old, who was born and raised in Arctic Bay, has also been involved with Arctic Bay's hamlet council, the recreation committee, the alcohol education committee, the planning committee, and the community empowerment committee.
Kataisee Attagutsiak
The 52-year-old and former district education authority chairperson, is setting her sights on housing.
"It's just so worrisome. I've been advocating for housing for some of the elders in our community," Attagutsiak said.
"The Government of Nunavut is doing a wonderful job for housing, but there's still a question of 'Have we done enough yet?' "
Attagutsiak also said that pride needs to return to the government, like it was when Nunavut was first created.
"When we got Nunavut in 1999 we were so passionate, we were so excited that we were finally getting our Nunavut. [But] is it for the people? Is it for the communities?
"Now, there needs to be a reversal [from what] we've clearly been seeing in our communities and for Nunavut … the governments have been working for the government, and it should be the other way around. The government should be working for the people."
Leo Eecherk
He wants to find a way to keep Quttiktuq's elders in their communities, rather than send them south for long term care.
"It's tough for everybody. Not just for the elder, but for the family," he said.
He also wants to make improvements in the constituency's smaller communities.
"I like to find something for the smaller communities. Getting some kind of government department or a shelter for Quttiktuq area. Something like a shelter or an elder centre or something like that."
Gary Kalluk
"I'd like to get more locals working in the workforce. The community can't really develop itself without an economy," Kalluk said.
The 31-year-old volunteer firefighter is, himself, unemployed and says the future of Nunavut is its youth.
"They're our future workforce and future leaders, and education is key to that," Kalluk said. "They need good education."
He says if elected, he wants to get more involved in his home community of Resolute Bay and be the community's voice in government.
Mavis Manik
Former Resolute Bay mayor Mavis Manik is also vying for the Quttiktuq seat.
Manik declined CBC's request for an interview on her platform.
Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley
She said Inuit have historically had little control of what's happened to them, and are still vulnerable to outside forces.
"I think people have to be very aware that the environment is very vulnerable. If there are, say, oil spills, accidents, it will be a very fragile area to clean up. And that will be difficult to do. It's my plan to at least have some protective measures in place," she said.
"Right now Quttiktuq is particularly vulnerable because of its isolation. [If anything happens] it will not only be expensive, but it will also take a lot of teamwork between the different agencies that I plan to work with, to make sure people who live there [and] are going to be impacted have a say if anything, like development or oil spills, happens."
Qitsualik-Tinsley graduated from Western University in London, Ont. with a degree in world history and religion.
She said she's running to give young Nunavut women a bigger voice.
Andrew Taqtu
While the 61-year-old says a port is important to his constituents, he's focusing on elder care.
"We have no elders facility here. They have nobody representing them. That's the main reason why I'm running," he said in Inuktitut. He also mentioned the need for improved education, and better roads in the community.
"Also … there's not enough teachers to teach mining. Especially students that are forced to not continue because of lack of teachers. This needs to improve."