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Three vie for Makivik treasurer’s position

Inuit beneficiaries go to the polls next week

JANE GEORGE

On April 12, beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement will chose a new treasurer for the Makivik Corporation.

In the running for this executive position are Larry Watt, Mary Tukkiapik Mesher and the incumbent, Anthony Ittoshat.

Ittoshat, a former mayor of Kuujjuaraapik, was first elected treasurer of Makivik in 1999.

"I’ve got a lot to offer, with 10 years of experience in politics," Ittoshat said. "I’ve proven I have the credibility."

Ittoshat said he’s asking Nunavimmiut to re-elect him because of his performance. Ittoshat said he wants to continue projects he’s started and to keep the present executive team intact — "If it’s not broken, don’t fix it" is his motto.

"It’s been going so well," Ittoshat said.

During his last campaign, Ittoshat had promised to set up sewing shops and traditional workshops in Nunavik as a way of reducing unemployment in the communities — a project that Makivik has gotten off the ground.

As treasurer, Ittoshat said he has also maintained good investment revenue for Makivik beneficiaries. He said even the economic downturn after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 didn’t hurt Makivik’s portfolio too much.

"Considering what happened in other places, we did quite well," Ittoshat said.

Makivik’s treasurer is responsible for managing more than $120 million in compensation funds on behalf of Nunavimmiut.

But Larry Watt, Ittoshat’s chief contender in this election, said the treasurer’s job isn’t just about money.

If he’s elected, Watt said he would work as much with people as with money — to help keep Nunavimmiut productive and strengthen the region.

"I’m not promising millions of dollars, and lots of money. It’s about capacity building — that’s a good way to help people," Watt said. "I’m talking about the mandate of Makivik. It’s all about helping the beneficiaries."

Watt, the general manager of Makivik’s Kuujjuaq office, has served as Makivik’s youth liaison officer as well as executive assistant to two Makivik presidents. Watt, who holds college and university degrees, said he has a good handle on the financial aspects of being a treasurer.

But Watt, a long-time Kativik School Board commissioner and interim KSB president until recently, has also been at odds with Makivik’s present executives over such touchy matters as self-government.

Last October, at a Makivik-organized conference on Nunavik self-government, Watt was at loggerheads with Makivik president Pita Aatami over the way a vote supporting self-government negotiations was conducted.

Watt also said the school board had repeatedly raised concerns over issues such as the impact of Quebec sovereignty on the new regional government and the role of the school board in this new structure — but these concerns hadn’t been addressed.

"We’re saying "yes" to self-government, but not at any cost," Watt said at the time.

As treasurer, Watt said he would encourage more volunteerism in communities. He’d also like to involve youth in exchange programs and social projects to improve their knowledge of Inuit culture and language.

Watt is also proposing to hold a regional conference on social problems.

Dealing with social issues would also be front-and-centre for Mary Tukkiapik Mesher, if she’s elected treasurer. A trained social worker, Mesher is project manager for drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs at Nunalituquait Ikajuqatgitiitut, the organization in charge of Nunavik’s wellness programs

"I decided to run for this position since we have all men on the [Makivik] executive. It’s time we put a woman on the executive," Mesher said

She said having both women and men as role models in leadership positions is important. As it stands now, there are only two women on Makivik’s 14-member board of directors.

As treasurer, Mesher said she would concentrate on community issues and bringing jobs to the smaller communities. She would like to mobilize women, who are usually powerful forces within community organizations, to work on local and regional development.

Both Mesher and Watt live in Kuujjuaq. They said they would work out of Makivik’s Kuujjuaq office, unlike Ittoshat, who lives in Montreal and works mainly in Makivik’s Ville St-Laurent office — to be closer to beneficiaries and to save money.

Ittoshat said the question of where he lives is a "non-issue" for him. He said most of his staff is located in Montreal. As well, his home community of Kuujjuaraapik is also more accessible from Montreal than from Kuujjuaq.

Ittoshat said he is constantly in contact with Nunavimmiut and often travels in the region.

"I care about what happens in Nunavik no matter where I am," Ittoshat said.

Makivik’s new treasurer will serve a three-year term. Polls will be open next Friday in all Nunavik communities, in Montreal and at the Raglan mine. Nunavimmiut in detention will also get a chance to cast votes.

The election for this position will cap off Makivik’s annual general meeting to be held in Tasiujaq next week.

Money, housing, justice and self-government are among the many other items delegates will discuss at this gathering, scheduled to start April 9.

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