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Interest in KRG rising among Nunavik youth

"It's a shift. Young people are getting more involved."

JANE GEORGE

Computer-savvy Charlie Pinguartuq from Salluit, a teacher who speaks Inuttitut, English and French, is one of the new and younger members of the KRG's regional council. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

Pallaya Ezekiel, the KRG regional councilor for Quaqtaq, suggested establishing a "University of Nunavik" might encourage students to stay in school. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

KUUJJUAQ - The desire for more debate and a stronger say in government is growing in Nunavik, if the mood at the recent Kativik Regional Government's council meeting is any indication.

At the first meeting of the regional council, which saw many new faces following November's municipal elections, councillors revealed a new gusto for legislative procedures, greeting the speaker Eli Aullaluk with "Nakormiik, uqati," just as it's done in the Nunavut legislature.

And, instead of simply appointing regional councillors to fill seats on the executive, other boards, committees and government commissions, the regional councilors were eager to be nominated for the various slots. Elections for each and every position went on for hours and nominees gave short campaign speeches to support their candidacy.

"Looking at the youth today and a long time ago, today they're using the computer more than the telephone to talk. I'm part of that generation," said Salluit's new regional councillor, Charlie Pinguartuq, as he spoke in favour of his nomination to the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network committee.

"Please vote for me," said Adamie Qalingo, councillor from Ivujivik, who wanted to be on the Nunvik Mineral Exploration Fund board.

The regional council has representatives from every Nunavik community, and its new spunk is a sign of a change in regional politics, said Jonathan Grenier, who represents Nunavik's Saputiit youth association at the regional council.

"It's a shift. Young people are getting more involved," Grenier said. "There's more questioning."

At several times during the meeting, councillors also suggested amending the Kativik Act because they found it limiting.

The Kativik Act, which established the KRG, is part of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

Councillors wanted, for example, to offer a voting seat on the council to the Saputiit youth association. However, amending the Kativik Act is no easy task, explained KRG lawyers and administrators, because it requires the approval of many levels of government, including amending the JBNQA.

The prospect of self-government was on the minds of many of the councillors, who came close to deciding to spend an extra day talking about this topic when the item came at the end of a long agenda during the final, 10-hour day of the council meeting.

"We have to be more educated about our future," said KRG executive member Joseph Annahatak, who is also the mayor of Kangirsuk. "Some people are in the dark. They aren't well-informed [about self-government]. I think the young people should be well-informed. What are we going to do to lower the drop-out rate?"

Councillors then took some time to discuss what could be done to reach Nunavimmiut and youth, in particular.

Quaqtaq's councillor Pallaya Ezekiel suggested a regionally-based "University of Nunavik," which would be similar to Greenland's university, and could offer an incentive for students to stay in school.

Youth representative Grenier suggested a youth-directed pamphlet on self-government would be one way to reach young people and encourage them to finish their education.

The marathon meeting finally closed after council had deliberated on all but one point. The councillors will meet again in mid-February - but they decided to set the place of the regional council's second meeting during a future telephone conference discussion.

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