Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sep 24/01) - After months of turmoil, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association dismissed president Meeka Kilabuk on Wednesday.

Board chair George Eckalook personally informed Kilabuk of the decision, which came late in the day. The board made no official comment beyond announcing the termination, but sources say the board "was nearly 100 per cent" in favour of firing Kilabuk.

Asked about Kilabuk's response, Eckalook said "she wasn't saying much."

The meeting got underway at St. Jude's Parish Hall with the usual formalities, but directors quickly closed the doors to hold an in camera session.

"They started at nine this morning," and closed the doors shortly afterwards, said association executive director Terry Audla.

"Prior to taking their lunch break, they said they wanted to be no more than one or two hours," he added.

At 3:30 p.m., the board and Kilabuk took a short break, but no decision had been made by then. Kilabuk and her lawyer then left the hall and slipped into a waiting cab. Before she left, Kilabuk said she wouldn't comment until the board made a decision.

The Baffin birthright association convened the special meeting to deal with Kilabuk's fate before the QIA's annual general meeting this weekend.

The board suspended Kilabuk with pay Aug. 10, a little over seven months after she was elected president. The move followed Kilabuk's refusal to accede to a unanimous request from the board that she resign.

During her tenure as president, Kilabuk came under repeated criticism for her management style. At the time of her suspension, QIA was operating without an executive director or a comptroller. Of the 23 positions at the association, seven were vacant at the time of Kilabuk's suspension.

Thomasie Alikatuktuk, member-at-large for Panniqtuuq was elected acting president by the board.

He will hold the post until an election can be held in December.