Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 21/02) - Okalik Eegeesiak became a mother when she was 16.

But she went back to school and managed to fit in university whenever she could. Her first job, 23 years ago, was as a receptionist for the NWT government.

Okalik Eegeesiak

In 1997, she moved to Ottawa to become president of Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (now Tapiriit Kanatami). Back to Iqaluit again, she's the new director of policy and programming for the Nunavut cabinet.

N/N: When did you move back to Iqaluit?

Okalik Eegeesiak: About a year and a half ago. I came back for a long weekend and decided to stay.

N/N: What did you learn from your three-year term as president of ITC?

OE: I got to work with the government. I guess I learned how the government works and if it works for Inuit.

N/N: You have said that Inuit get lost in the shuffle when it comes to federal programs. Did you find this was improving?

OE: Yes and no. The federal government tends to forget aboriginal people in general and more specifically Inuit -- because of our low numbers compared to First Nations. When the federal government makes aboriginal policies, they are mainly geared towards addressing First Nations issues.

N/N: So, an example of that might be the aboriginal diabetes initiative?

OE: Yes. A lot of the programming was geared towards treatment, whereas it might be more helpful for Inuit to have a prevention program.

Another one was housing. When the federal government changed the policy for social housing, they said they were going to be looking after aboriginal peoples on reserves. And none of us live on reserves.

N/N: So you spent a lot of time educating?

OE: ITK spends an enormous amount of time educating and re-educating bureaucrats about our issues.

N/N: Is the federal government open to learning about Inuit culture or do you feel they purposely ignore Inuit?

OE: When you are a federal government employee, under an aboriginal umbrella, you might spend 95 per cent of your time on First Nations issues and the rest on Inuit and Metis. They don't have the time to come out and learn, I guess.

N/N: So, you don't blame them for not being aware?

OE: No, I think it's the system. It's the system they have set up. It's like an obstacle course. If they had dedicated people just to work on Inuit issues I think the system might be a bit more responsive to us.

N/N: How would you like to see that established within the system?

OE: One of the suggestions has been to get a department of Inuit affairs or something to that effect. Even the Metis have a Metis interlocutor.

N/N: Did you see steps towards this?

OE: No (laughs). Some of our aboriginal reports are collecting dust again. And ITK's funding always has a horizon. I know ITK has been after more funding. Right now, it is run on mostly project funding.

N/N: Did you like living in Ottawa?

OE: It's a great place to live. People are always going back and forth so you get to see people from up here. The job required I travel up here quite a bit. It was good.

N/N: Was it your first time living outside of Iqaluit?

OE: I have lived in Hamilton and Peterborough Ont., and Yellowknife. And that's the second time I've lived in Ottawa.

N/N: Did you miss Iqaluit?

OE: Yes. I missed my family. Most of my family live here. That's one thing I missed.

N/N: When you live in a city for a while, is it an adjustment to come back?

OE: Yeah, you miss all the different restaurants and conveniences.

N/N: Did you find city life changed you?

OE: I think you're a little bit more cautious about where you go at night and stuff like that.

N/N: Did you shed that pretty easily when you came back?

OE: Yes, you just think it's safer because it's home even though it may not necessarily be.

N/N: What have you been up to for the last year or so?

OE: Home-based consulting, mostly on human resource development and community development.

N/N: Did you like it?

OE: Yes and no. I missed the everyday contact with people. But I enjoyed the down time that comes and goes with different jobs.

N/N: You started a new job here?

OE: At the GN. My job title will be director of policy and programming under the territorial Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. I will be doing quite a bit of what I used to do at ITK, policy development, consulting with colleagues about where government is heading and where government should be heading.

N/N: What types of policy are you hoping to work on?

OE: Well I know that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and how that fits in with government is one of the priority areas. And increasing employment. And housing is a major issue.

N/N: You've spent a lot of time lobbying the government and now you'll be working inside it. How do you feel about that?

OE: I've been asking myself that since I heard I got the job. I like working in the area of policy development, and with the executive and intergovernmental affairs, I think it touches on just about every government department. Working on the different areas and working with the different departments is something that I've wanted to do. And the work I did with ITK will certainly help. Nunavut is 85 per cent Inuit so a lot of the policy development is geared toward Inuit issues.

N/N: Why do you like policy development?

OE: When you develop good policy it has a positive impact on the community and the people. If you can develop good policy, it's better for people.

N/N: How do you develop good policy?

OE: By knowing the issues. And if you don't know, by finding out. And from the people who are impacted.

N/N: By getting out and talking to people?

OE: Yes.

N/N: What do you do for fun?

OE: Spend lots of time with family and friends. I'm the unofficial family photographer. We're into Scrabble lately. We play Scrabble every chance we get.