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Son remembers DadSA国际影视传媒檚 contributions, while still listing education as key to NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 continued success

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Jose Amaujaq Kusugak was a tireless advocate for Inuit rights during much of his lifetime and was president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated from 1994-2000. NNSL file photo

Pujjuut Kusugak shares his late fatherSA国际影视传媒檚 vision as to the important role education must play for Nunavut to continue to grow and prosper SA国际影视传媒 and its people along with it.

PujjuutSA国际影视传媒檚 dad, Jose Kusugak, was president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. when Nunavut came to be in 1999. Jose was a tireless advocate for Inuit rights during much of his lifetime. He passed away in January of 2011.

Before Nunavut existed in 1999, Pujjuut, 44, said his dad told him how big a deal it was for Inuit to be creating a territory, and the amount of work and vision it would require.

He said Inuit leaders sacrificed a lot of time away from their family members while helping to create Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淢y dad knew a lot of the negotiators and told me there were times when it was tough,SA国际影视传媒 said Pujjuut. SA国际影视传媒淭his was back in the day before the talks of reconciliation, and before there was a lot of knowledge about Inuit, our culture and how our society works.

SA国际影视传媒淲e still deal with these issues today, so imagine 30 years ago and how much more difficult it probably was. Nunavut is quite the accomplishment but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 still a lot of work to be done.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut, at the same time, weSA国际影视传媒檙e in a place where devolution was signed-off on, which means weSA国际影视传媒檙e in the process of working towards more decisions being made for Nunavut by Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome people may think itSA国际影视传媒檚 taking too long. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e impatient and think this is not how things were envisioned, but we have to remember that our human resources are not the same as anywhere else.SA国际影视传媒

Pujjuut said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 still a need for more Inuit to have the education, experience and backgrounds necessary to match other jurisdictions.

He said human resources were still lacking in some areas when Nunavut was launched and itSA国际影视传媒檚 still going to take more time to catch up.

SA国际影视传媒淲e still need to push education. Some things in Canadian society, worldwide for that matter, are still a necessity and education is one of them.

SA国际影视传媒淏efore his passing, I think Dad was quite proud of where Nunavut was, fully understanding that there was still a long way to go. We saw things develop like having a lawyer program, the Nunavut Teacher Education Program, more opportunities for trades and a growing number of students continuing on to post-secondary studies.

SA国际影视传媒淧aul Okalik was our first lawyer (and premier) and now there are far more Inuit in different professions than there were 20 or 30 years ago. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e now at a point where we have many lawyers, teachers and even pilots. We have Inuit who have trades in electrical engineering.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I was a kid, we had heavy-equipment operators as family members, carpenters and housing-maintenance guys, but we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have very many teachers and no pilots. Not even too many of our MLAs were Inuk in those days, but now we have a whole cabinet of mostly Inuit and our own premier.SA国际影视传媒

Pujjuut said there are still many employment opportunities available in both government and the private sector in Nunavut due to the lack of training and education.

Currently Agnico EagleSA国际影视传媒檚 director for Nunavut affairs, Pujjuut said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 numerous jobs in the mining industry right now but many Inuit need further education and training to fill those roles.

He said he keeps going back to the need for education and how important it is for Inuit, especially youth, to obtain it.

SA国际影视传媒淢y dad was about helping Inuit and helping give Inuit a voice when some may not be heard. When he spoke, people listened to what he had to say. He was an amazing speaker who captivated any audience. His message was always about Inuit and our capabilities.

SA国际影视传媒淲e all need to show thanks and appreciation to our leaders who helped create Nunavut and who are in place now to keep implementing the land claims agreement.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a ton of work and a very thankless job sometimes. The families of our leaders pay a price too. I think of my own mom (Nellie), who had to hold the fort down, and family members who were helping to raise me and my siblings while my dad had to travel and advocate so much.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll of these things are still there and their efforts and sacrifices donSA国际影视传媒檛 go unnoticed.SA国际影视传媒



About the Author: Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative

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