Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 19, 2007

RANKIN INLET - One of Nunavut's most popular and experienced politicians is back in the game.

Jose Kusugak was voted in as the president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) earlier this month, taking over from former president Tongola Sandy.

Jose Kusugak is sworn in as Kivalliq Inuit Association president by Jacqueline Curley during a special ceremony in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Many people were surprised when Kusugak announced his intention to run for the office during the KIA's annual general meeting in Rankin, but the former head of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami said that was because they assumed he retired for good when he stepped away from the political spotlight this past year.

He said those who really know him probably realized it was just a matter of time before he returned.

"Joe Kaludjak was one of many people who told me the KIA was in a rather chaotic situation and I should consider running in the president's election," said Kusugak.

"When I was told the KIA couldn't seem to get an executive director, and the organization wasn't really receiving any direction from its president, I decided it was time for me to get politically involved again."

Kusugak said advocating for Inuit rights has been his lifelong passion and occupation.

He said he didn't realize how much he'd miss his calling until he stepped away for a while.

"It's true when they say you don't really know what you have until it's gone.

"I was listening to everything going on in the Kivalliq mining industry and the way the Land Claims Agreement was progressing – or not – and I found it very hard to be watching from the sidelines after being involved for so long.

"It wasn't hard to rekindle the fire inside and jump back in."

Kusugak said his first priority is to find an executive director for the KIA.

He said it's impossible to run a complex organization properly if you have to deal with staff issues on a daily basis.

"The president should be focused on political issues, not constantly dealing with staff issues.

"In all the organizations I've been involved with throughout my career, I've never seen a situation where there was no one interested in a senior management type of position.

"When you put out a job opportunity for an executive director, there's usually a lineup of people looking to take the position.

"So, we spent half of my first day on the job talking about filling that position within the KIA."

Kusugak said land development in the Kivalliq region has him excited.

He said he can't help but be optimistic about the future when there were so many mining and exploration companies flying around the Kivalliq this past year.

"You have the new trade school get5ting ready to begin operations in Rankin coupled with the possibility of 1,200 jobs being available in this region over the next four years or so.

"I'm excited because someone has to fill those jobs."

Kusugak said Inuit organizations have lobbied the Nunavut government for a viable mine-training plan for years and it still hasn't come up with one.

He said it will be interesting for him, as KIA president, to try and encourage people to take the training needed to land the big jobs that are about to become available.

"While campaigning, I told people in Baker Lake, Coral Harbour, Arviat and Repulse Bay that this is right in front of us.

"Mining companies are knocking at our door and they're willing to work with the communities.

"A great opportunity is here now and it's important for the people of our region to realize that."

Kusugak said another issue he heard repeatedly while campaigning across the region was the need for an ombudsman in the Kivalliq.

He said many Inuit have no one to turn to when they have problems dealing with the health, education and employment fields, or the federal government.

"Even though the KIA is not here to do the government's work, we could listen to people and point them in the right direction if we were set-up properly.

"The KIA has to listen to the needs of the people in the region and do what it can to help them with those needs, even if all we can do is make sure they know who they should be talking to in order to resolve their problem.

"Being an advocate for the people all of my professional life, that's very important to me."