In a public statement, outgoing Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson made it clear his next project would be SA国际影视传媒渨riting about the Nunavut story SA国际影视传媒� the inside story, of one who was there (though not in the beginning but since 1975)SA国际影视传媒� the behind the scenes stories of the evolution of Nunavut.SA国际影视传媒�

When asked for an example of one of these SA国际影视传媒渂ehind the scenes stories,SA国际影视传媒� Patterson provided an anecdote.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was an MLA for what was then Frobisher Bay in the Northwest Territories. I thought about the pivotal vote that started [us] on the road to Nunavut. Basically, it was a plebiscite with one important question: SA国际影视传媒楧o you support a separation?SA国际影视传媒� It was a big gambleSA国际影视传媒� [because] what was now Nunavut had a much smaller population. The civil servants in the capital city in the Northwest Territories were apprehensive about job loss or relocation. SA国际影视传媒榃hat will be the impact on those who are in the Territories who are left behind?SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he only way to have a very high turnout was to encourage people with doubts to vote with their feet i.e., stay home. The Nunavut MLAs all campaigned hard for a high turnout and vote in Nunavut. The TFN [Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut, precursor to Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated] encouraged Nunavummiut to vote for separation or refrain from voting.SA国际影视传媒�

In 1982, it was still legal in the Northwest Territories to drive with people sitting in the open bed of a pickup truck. Undeterred, Patterson got behind the wheel to transport eligible voters to the polls around Frobisher Bay.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was hustling everyone I could to the poll in the flat of my truck,SA国际影视传媒� he recalled.

At one particular residence, an Elder, was bedridden on his couch, but adamant that he wanted to cast a ballot.

With the help of other young able-bodied men Patterson was also ferrying on his truck bed, the group simply picked up the couch with the Elder on it, and brought him directly to the poll that way.

SA国际影视传媒淚 remember it so vividly,SA国际影视传媒� says Patterson, SA国际影视传媒渂ecause it was such a passionate expression of enthusiasm.SA国际影视传媒�

In the end, 82 per cent of Frobisher Bay voted in favour of division, and across Nunavut, the vote came in at 56.5 per cent.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 four times the average voter turnout today,SA国际影视传媒� Patterson said. SA国际影视传媒淭his was an enormous gamble that paid off, even with the votes being counted equally across the Northwest Territories.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a great story which has to be told,SA国际影视传媒� he stated, SA国际影视传媒渁nd [it needs to be] understood by our new generation of leadersSA国际影视传媒� for I believe it helps to know where youSA国际影视传媒檙e going if you understand from whence youSA国际影视传媒檝e come.SA国际影视传媒�