Arviat's Kono Tattuinee rode the strength of incredible support in both his home community and Rankin Inlet to be named the new president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) during the recent elections.
Stanley Adjuk of Whale Cove placed second in the race, while two-term incumbent David Ningeongan was third.
Tattuinee, 57, said he wasn't feeling very good about things early, as the early results had him falling behind.
He said the feeling of doom and gloom evaporated quickly, however, when the results from Arviat and Rankin came in, two communities that voted late due to blizzard conditions on Dec. 9 and 10.
SA国际影视传媒淚 knew I had a lot of support in my home community, and I had quite a lot of support in Rankin Inlet, and those were the communities taking their time counting the ballots on election night,SA国际影视传媒� said Tattuinee.
SA国际影视传媒淭he people from Arviat really pulled through for me, and the people in Rankin did, as well. That support shot me to the top.SA国际影视传媒�
Tattuinee said he was more than a little overwhelmed when the final results were posted.
He said it was all like a dream.
SA国际影视传媒淚t still doesn't seem like it's real and I can't thank everyone enough, in every community, who voted for me.
SA国际影视传媒淢y job now is to make sure I treat them all fairly, and make sure I keep every community in the region on an even keel.
SA国际影视传媒淎nd, really, fairness and equality are what I'm all about.SA国际影视传媒�
Tattuinee isn't 100 per cent sure of the official date he will assume his new position, and realizes he will have to move his family to Rankin, where the KIA head office is located, sometime in the new year as he begins his four-year term.
He said this a big job he's entering into, and nothing to be taken lightly in any way, shape or form.
SA国际影视传媒淭his job will be far more intense than anything I've ever done before in my life.
SA国际影视传媒淭he KIA election policies struck a chord with a lot of people in the region during the election and the Government of Nunavut was up in arms about it, as well, especially with young people away attending school not being allowed to vote and others living in other Nunavut communities because of their jobs who couldn't vote.
SA国际影视传媒淎nother issue I intend to look at, under the Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement, is the royalties, which are something that needs to be transparent to Kivalliq beneficiaries.
SA国际影视传媒淚 want to see if we can actually do something for the Inuit in the region with part of those royalties. Those are my two main issues right now.SA国际影视传媒�
Tattuinee said the KIA partnering with the various Young Hunters program would benefit a lot of youth in the region and boost their self-confidence.
He said communication is key with the mines that are operating in the Kivalliq to bring respectability back to the relationship.
SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes we hear people talking negatively about working at the camp because they donSA国际影视传媒檛 speak French, and no one should ever be discriminated against like that.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey're on our land and they should respect our languages and us, as Inuit, in general.SA国际影视传媒�
Tattuinee said it was a clean campaign with SA国际影视传媒渘ot too muchSA国际影视传媒� mudslinging.
He said it's a very challenging position and he harbours no ill will towards outgoing president, Ningeongan, and his eight-year performance.
SA国际影视传媒淚'd like to thank all my supporters, my wife, Bernadette, who's been through everything with me, my family, my parents, my sister, Veronica, and my nephew, Kyle, for being my financial agent.
SA国际影视传媒淲e had next to no financial support from anywhere. We did this on social media, visiting the communities, talking with the elders, our young people and people in general.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was mostly positive on the radio shows and people were kind and generous with their words of wisdom and encouraging me to keep going, and that's what kept me going.
SA国际影视传媒淚'm still living the dream.SA国际影视传媒�
---
Listed below are the complete results, by community, of the Kivalliq Inuit Association's (KIA) election for president on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Also included are election results for KIA community directors and the Hunters and Trappers Organization in both Arviat and Rankin Inlet.
KIA president:
Kono Tattuinee: (Elected)
Arviat 414
Baker Lake 76
Chesterfield Inlet 28
Coral Harbour 61
Naujaat 40
Rankin Inlet 268
Whale Cove 13
Region total: 900
Stanley Adjuk:
Arviat 62
Baker Lake 95
Chesterfield Inlet 41
Coral Harbour 46
Naujaat 32
Rankin Inlet 123
Whale Cove 245
Region total: 503
David Ningeongan:
Arviat 58
Baker Lake 50
Chesterfield Inlet 32
Coral Harbour 87
Naujaat 61
Rankin Inlet 138
Whale Cove 17
Region total: 443
KIA community directors:
Arviat:
Tony Uluadluak 281 (Elected)
David Kuksuk 248
Baker Lake:
James Taipanak 98 (Elected)
Thomas Elytook 86
Angela Cook 44
Coral Harbour:
Paul Pudlat 81 (Elected)
Hannah Angutialuk 77
Solomon Nakoolak 36
Kangiqliniq Hunters and Trappers Organization
Rankin Inlet:
Roger Pilakapsi 356 (Elected)
Nathan Tulugak 284 (Elected)
Brian Sigurdson 247 (Elected)
Harry Ittinuar 217 (Elected)
Hapanaaq Issaluk 196
Samuel Alagalak 174
Andre Aokaut 171
Aaron Angidlik 58
Arviat Hunters and Trappers Organization:
Alex Ishalook 200 (Elected)
Ludovic Onerk 199 (Elected)
Gordy Kidlapik 146 (Elected)
Sam Muckpah 136
Peter Shamee 101
Laurent Angalik 85
Peter Sr. Aulatjut 78
Brian Sr. Sulurayok 65
Annie Amauyak 56
Evano Sr. Aggark 41
Peter Sr. Mamgark 37
