IQALUIT
Only one woman put her name forward for election as Qikiqtani Inuit Association president. It was nothing new for Meeka Kilabuk, the Baffin Inuit organization's president from 2000 to 2001. But nothing prepared her for an election day incident that will resonate with women across the territory.

A campaign sign for the sole female Qikiqtani Inuit Association presidential candidate, Meeka Kilabuk, prominently placed at Iqaluit's busiest intersection, was defaced on election day with the words No Women President. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo

"No Women President" was the message someone spray-painted over Kilabuk's campaign sign, prominently located at Iqaluit's main intersection, across the street from the QIA offices.

"I was on my way to work when I saw it, and I said, 'What?!'" she said. "I didn't expect that. I was in shock. One of the things I've been talking about, please don't look at me as a woman running as president. I've had major involvement in the land claims process, done incredible work with wildlife issues, and getting the regional, national and international organizations going. I've been there with all of them to make sure we are fighting for the rights of Inuit, to make sure they have a voice."

Voters may recall Kilabuk's brief presidency from December 2000 to July 2001, when she was ousted after repeated criticism of her management style. She refused to resign, and the board voted unanimously to remove her. She refused to leave staff housing for months after her dismissal.

"I was a threat," she said last week, saying that's the real reason she was removed. "I'm too open, too honest. It was over jealousy and over greed for power, which we had never seen in our traditions."

But regardless of voters' memories - and considering she had replaced Pauloosie Keyootak, a man who garnered more votes on the ballot this year, and who was asked to step down in 2000 for breaching the code of conduct - the sign did not read "No Meeka President." It read "No Women President."

The distinction is significant. This was an act of aggression against women that came two days after the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre that left 14 women dead. And it happened in a territory where the rate of violence against women is the highest in Canada and 13 times the national average.

Sadly, the vandalism was nothing out of the ordinary for former Iqaluit mayor and QIA community director candidate Madeleine Redfern.

"I think it was shocking that it was such a public display, but I think that if you talk to women who are in politics, it's something we face regularly," Redfern said. "Every woman who has ever run for politics in Nunavut faces not only intimidation, criticism that is not necessarily levied at our male counterparts."

The incident happened despite the fact that voters have given mandates to a female MP, premier, a growing number of MLAs, the NTI and QIA presidents, and mayors of both Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay in recent years.

"And they'll all tell you they regularly face harassment, intimidation, bullying and unprofessional behaviour not only by their colleagues but by members of the public," Redfern said. "It's very hard being a woman politician, or a woman running in politics. And we definitely need to ensure there are women in politics, and that women go out to vote. It's important to bring that balance into decision making and policy development."

She expressed a need for diversity among candidates, male and female, young and old, rich and poor. As Kilabuk would have brought a woman to the table, PJ Akeeagok, 30, would bring youth. He ran a campaign that left him with the potential of claiming the presidency after he fell three votes shy of Mikidjuk Akavak. A recount is pending.

"It was disgusting when I first saw (the sign), and I'm glad Meeka is going through the proper channels of going to the RCMP so they can start investigating," Akeeagok said. "We're in 2014, so it was shocking to see something like that in this day and age. I can give you a whole list of amazing women that have led, right from Sheila Watt-Cloutier, to Mary Simon, to Eva Aariak. The list can go on and on of modern day leaders who have been instrumental."

Another candidate is calling for tough action.

"It was very disturbing that something that nasty had happened," Akavak said. "Those people who did that could be prosecuted under election rules in the territory. It's very disturbing that someone would say something like that in a sign. You have to have very strict guidelines for stuff like that, and it's unfortunate that it happened to Meeka Kilabuk. I condemn the act because you cannot be tampering with other candidates' materials. We were under scrutiny that even on billboards in the communities, you cannot be removing anything or altering what the candidate had put there."

And the act of vandalism isn't slowing down the candidate herself.

"It would take a lot to silence me," Kilabuk said. "I have the support of people, not just women, but also the ex-leaders and these are not just in my region. I'm going to make sure that organization becomes open, transparent, accountable, and that it lobbies for what is their entitlements and rights under the agreement."

The QIA's rules do not cover defacing campaign materials, chief returning officer Nancy Karetak-Lindell said, but Kilabuk can submit a property crime complaint to the RCMP. Karetak-Lindell said it's up to the QIA to set rules regarding similar incidents.

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