Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (July 15/02) - Abraham Tagalik's has only been working for the territorial government since April, but is already noting the challenges and trying to overcome them.

Tagalik is the assistant deputy minister of health and social services for Nunavut.

"I have no background in health but I hope that I represent the people, the Inuit that are part of this system," says Tagalik.

His background is fairly broad. He has worked for some time in broadcasting, for Inuit associations and development companies.

He says he's ready for this job and he's glad to have it. Along with the abundance of meetings and a lot of paper work, he's working on a business plan for the department. Tagalik says there's always things going on. The hardest part, for him, is getting into the medical lingo.

"It's been a major learning curve for me to come to this department. I'm trying to figure out some of the medical terms. I'm trying to learn how the hospitals work, how the system works and how to make it more effective," says Tagalik.

While he knows that challenges are ahead of him, he believes that he is in a good position to produce change. He can influence policy, have a hand in the department's general direction and has a say in most decisions that will effect the territory's health.

"You can't change the world right away, you know. The people are glad that I'm here -- that the Inuit got their foot in the door to help make decisions. I don't mind trying to be an advocate for them," he says.

Tagalik says that he remembers growing up in Apex.

He says the hospital is still the same as it was when he was young. He admits that he's not sure if it's any better or worse but he knows that whenever someone needs services, they get them and that to him is what's important.

"I think for the most part, people are treated pretty well. For 95 per cent of the population things go well but it's just the odd cases that people have problems with," he says.

Tagalik says the work is tough but that things are starting to improve. He hopes that his goal to improve things in the territory, as far as health and social services is concerned, is finally getting somewhere.