Countdown to Nunavut

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Mar 15/99) - Nunavut Premier-elect Paul Okalik held a press conference in Iqaluit last Monday to announce the portfolios Cabinet members will hold.

"I am convinced that we have a solid team, a blend of youth and experience that can work effectively together to realize the hopes and dreams of the people of Nunavut," said Okalik in a press release issued by his office.

"We have a huge task ahead of us, and we will work as a team to ensure that our new government gets to work immediately."

The Cabinet's portfolios are as follows:

Paul Okalik (Iqaluit West)

*Premier

*Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs

*Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board

*shared responsibility with minister of sustainable development for Nunavut government's relationships with the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB), the Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC), the Nunavut Water Board (NWB) and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB)

Jack Anawak (Rankin Inlet North)

*Minister of Justice -- responsible for the Labour Standards Board, the Law Society of Nunavut and the Legal Services Board

*Minister of Community Government, Housing and Education -- responsible for the Assessment Appeal Tribunal

James Arvaluk (Nanulik)

*Minister of Education -- responsible for the divisional education councils and Nunavut Arctic College

Donald Havioyak (Kugluktuk)

*Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth -- responsible for the Arts Council

*Minister responsible for the status of women

Peter Kilabuk (Pangnirtung)

*Minister of Sustainable Development -- responsible for the Business Credit Corporation, the Nunavut Development Corporation and the Social Assistance Appeal Board

Kelvin Ng (Cambridge Bay)

*Minister of Finance and Administration

*Minister of Human Resources

*Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board

*Government House Leader

* Minister responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board

Edward Picco (Iqaluit East)

*Minister of Health and Social Services -- responsible for regional health and social services board and the Medical Registration Committee

*Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Manitok Thompson (Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove)

*Minister of Public Works, Telecommunications and Technical Services

Offices closed

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association announced last week that their offices would be closed on April 1 to recognize the creation of Nunavut. They will remain closed over the Easter holidays and re-open on April 6.

Social Development Council

Mary Wilman, the president of the Nunavut Social Development Council (NSDC) announced last Wednesday that Inuktitut Language Week would officially kick off on March 14.

Scheduled to last until March 20, the week-long celebration was announced in January by Nunavut Tunngavik president Jose Kusugak as a way of promoting Inuit language, culture and values.

"Inuktitut language is the principal instrument by which Inuit world views are shaped. Inuit culture is transmitted from one generation to another. There is an urgent need to preserve, use and promote Inuktitut language for the social and cultural well-being of the Inuit," said Wilman.

In order to address the younger generation's inadequate use of Inuktitut and to promote the language in the new territory and restore cultural pride, Wilman said a number of activities have been planned for communities across Nunavut. It is hoped they will draw attention to the importance of maintaining linguistic standards.