Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 25-year-old newly-elected NDP member of Parliament was delighted but pensive in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

She was at home in Baker Lake, surrounded by family, quietly watching the federal election results come in. She led the vote count from start to finish but the gap between her and Liberal Megan Pizzo-Lyall and Conservative Leona Aglukkaq SA国际影视传媒� who kept swapping second and third place SA国际影视传媒� hovered around 10 per cent throughout the night, preventing Qaqqaq from celebrating too early.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 trying to wrap my head around what I need to do tomorrow,SA国际影视传媒� she said with a laugh that revealed a sense of relief.

But sheSA国际影视传媒檚 still wrestling with the perception of being a politician. She sought this lofty leadership role because she wants to be an advocate for Nunavut and for Inuit, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow that I have the political status attached to me, that changes a lot of peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 perspective and how they interact or treat me. ISA国际影视传媒檝e found that aspect to be the most challenging,SA国际影视传媒� said Qaqqaq. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 a human that wants to help other humans, and it always starts getting complicated when there are certain titles attached to peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 names. I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 been one of the more challenging aspects to it.SA国际影视传媒�

SheSA国际影视传媒檒l be in Ottawa in a few weeks to be sworn in as NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 fourth member of Parliament. Liberal Nancy Karetak-Lindell was NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 first MP, serving four terms. She was followed by Conservative Leona Aglukkaq for two terms and then Liberal Hunter Tootoo for the past four years, however much of that was served as an independent.

Although Nunavut recently marked its 20th anniversary, too little has changed, according to Qaqqaq. She said she recently watched a television report reflecting on the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 greatest issues when division from the NWT occurred in 1999 and those same troubles persist today: housing, food insecurity and economic development.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not there (in the House of Commons) to fill a seat, ISA国际影视传媒檓 there to help 38,000 people in the biggest territory in the nation. Things need to stop going unsaid and undone SA国际影视传媒� ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to do my best to ensure that my four years sitting in that seat that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 actual change, not just apologies but actual action and accountability,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e always been very grounded in what I believe SA国际影视传媒� knowing that things need to change in Nunavut in order for Nunavummiut to have equal opportunity and better living situations. ISA国际影视传媒檝e always been very strong and passionate in that SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 time that the federal government steps up and takes care of its people as they should have been doing for a long time now.SA国际影视传媒�

Qaqqaq didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have a campaign manager so she did much of that work herself over the 40 days of canvassing, with support from a campaign team in Iqaluit and from her parents.

SA国际影视传媒淢y mom is my number one supporter and always has been,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Nationally, the NDP slid in the vote count and seat count, dropping to 24 seats from 44 after the last election. The expected SA国际影视传媒淪ingh surgeSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� under leader Jagmeet Singh SA国际影视传媒� didnSA国际影视传媒檛 materialize.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 unfortunate that Canadians donSA国际影视传媒檛 seem ready for that big of a change,SA国际影视传媒� said Qaqqaq. SA国际影视传媒淢y party leader, Jagmeet, has done amazing, outstanding. A coloured man that wears a turban being a party leader is so phenomenal to me. I have so much respect for him.SA国际影视传媒�