Nunavut Inuit, enrolled or eligible to be enrolled under the Nunavut agreement, will vote for the next Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Dec. 12. CBC North is profiling each of the candidates. We will post one per day for the week — in alphabetical order. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Name: Joe Alda Kunuk
Born: Iqaluit, 1959
Inuktitut speaker: Yes
Joe Adla Kunuk has worked with the Government of Nunavut and a number of Inuit organizations, including two terms as the chief executive officer of NTI. After receiving a Certificate of Business Administration from Dalhousie University, he went on to become president of Nortext Multimedia and Ayaya Marketing and Communications. Kunuk has worked as a GN deputy minister, principal secretary to former Nunavut Premier, Eva Aariak, and served as the mayor of Iqaluit. Kunuk also worked as the director of Nunasi Corporation and the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, and was an Inuit Circumpolar Council executive member.
What are some of the areas you want to focus on if elected the next NTI president?
Kunuk’s plans to hone in on three areas — reviewing, investing and accountability.
“In reviewing, I would look at how we would improve and unite NTI with Inuit associations and associate where possible and centralize where possible,” he said.
He said that could mean sharing communications, human resources or purchasing power to create more savings and reduce inefficiencies.
He also wants to see a review of NTI’s major expenses.
When it comes to investing, Kunuk said he wants to see more revenue generated for the Regional Inuit Associations (RIAs) and to help them to invest that increased revenue in their communities.
He wants to see the expansion of the elders’ pension to include elders born after 1938, and said there needs to be more support for small businesses.
As for the accountability piece, Kunuk said “we need to know what’s happening with the many millions of dollars that NTI and the RIAs spend on an annual basis, and we need to communicate that to the beneficiaries,” he said.
“We must hold our governments to account, ensure that their promises are continued and the Nunavut Agreement is fulfilled.”
Kunuk also said, if elected president, he would put an end to first class/business class travel for all NTI employees.
Why do you want to be elected president?
“I am running to be president because I want to look at ways at getting more benefits at the community level.”
There is a high unemployment rate, what will you do to help Inuit to get into jobs?
“I will work closely with the Nunavut Premier, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs to implement the [Nunavut Agreement] which includes Article 23, which deals with employment and training and this will address the high unemployment rate and the training required of our youth to gain employment.
“The $175 million out-of-court settlement needs to be used to address the high unemployment and the training of our beneficiaries.
“I will also work with the RIAs to implement a secondary education transition fund for those students who will go to college, university and even our cultural school.
“We need to take some of the major funding used by the NTI administration and pass it on to the small businesses in our communities, as they are the ones that will have a sustained level of employment.”
What will you do for the future of youth?
“Youth need to work with the president and the leadership in implementing their goals and objectives. The president cannot work in isolation from the youth to set priorities for them.”
Kunuk also wants to see more financial support for students getting an education outside of their home community.
“Sometimes we’ve heard that students would be hungry and their families would be hungry while they wait for their first payment.
“Proactively at NTI we should provide support to those students for the first month and a half or two so that they can concentrate on their learning and not worry about what they are going to eat for their next meal.”