Stephanie McDonald
Northern News Services
Monday, August 6, 2007

IQALUIT - While he used to dream of being an RCMP officer, Nunavut's deputy sheriff Jamie Anilniliak never suspected he would hold his current position.

The 23-year-old moved with his parents, two brothers and two sisters, from Pangnirtung to Iqaluit four years ago.

Anilniliak enrolled in the Environmental Technology Course at Nunavut Arctic College the same year.

"I was aiming for conservation officer," Anilniliak said.

It wasn't to be though, and in January 2006, after graduating, he started doing casual work at the Nunavut Justice Centre in Iqaluit.

Today his official title is deputy sheriff administrative clerk judicial officer III.

He is responsible for security and financial duties, and selecting juries in different communities for jury trials.

"I found the job interesting and challenging," he said.

In June of this year Anilniliak travelled to Clyde River and Cambridge Bay to assemble juries for trials.

One month before travelling to a community, Anilniliak sends a jury summons to the bailiff in a specific community. When he arrives in town, the bailiff will provide him with a list of names and Anilniliak will do the attendance in court.

The judge will then decide which summoned residents will be available for the trial.

Going to the communities for jury duty is his favorite part of the job.

After a year-and-a-half on the job, he has become familiar with court procedures.

"I'm still learning," he said.

Growing up in Pangnirtung, Anilniliak used to do a lot of hunting with his father, who is now a full-time hunter.

Anilniliak has been doing less of that since moving to the capital city, as the land is less familiar.

Although it's been four years since he's lived in Pangnirtung, Anilniliak tries to return twice a year.

Two weekends ago he was in his hometown to celebrate the wedding of his cousin, Adam Evic. He also loves snowmobiling, but only got to enjoy his newly purchased machine for a week last winter.

"I almost broke my back one week after I bought it," he said.

He had to take two weeks off of work to allow his back time to heal.

Someday this young deputy sheriff plans to upgrade his skills and work towards a Bachelor of Science degree.