Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Apr 26/00) - The Sakku Investment Corp.is planning to operate like a successful corporation, says Peter Tatty, newly-elected chair of the board.

Tatty was elected chair during the new Sakku Investments Corp. -- the main subsidiary of the Kivalliq Inuit Association -- board's first meeting in Rankin Inlet, April 17.

Tatty, a successful Keewatin businessman for more than 25 years, says a new approach to how it conducts business will be one of the company's biggest strengths.

Sakku will be hiring a full-time president and will advertise the position in the south in hopes of finding the best peson to fill the position.

"We have to find a way now to effectively direct the new president," says Tatty.

"That's the way a successful corporation should operate and I'm going to make sure it's the way Sakku Investments Corp. operates."

Joining Tatty as elected officers are Ben Ell, vice-chair; Louis Pilakapsi, second vice-chair; Peter Tapatai, secretary-treasurer; and Warwick Wilkinson, chief executive officer.

The Sakku board has one director from each Kivalliq hamlet including James Tagalik, Arviat; Lewis Voisey, Whale Cove; Tatty, Rankin Inlet; Tapatai, Baker Lake; Eli Kimaliarjuk, Chesterfield Inlet; Ell, Coral Harbour; and William Beveridge, Repulse Bay.

Pilakapsi is the KIA representative on the board.

The appointments became effective April 1.

"This restructuring of the board was a very positive move and one which is going to be one of our biggest strengths as we move forward," says Tatty.

"Once our president is in place, everything will start coming together and falling into place to better organize the company."

Tatty says the restructuring and hiring of a new president are the first things on the agenda to help Sakku Investments Corp. operate more like a company should.

"I don't expect it to happen overnight, but I'm hoping we'll quickly get structured to the point where we can actually say to the people, here we are and this is how we are.

"This is a good board, willing to go through the challenge and that's what I wanted to see. This board will bring in some fresh ideas with the new approach and that's what Sakku Developments Corp. needs right now."