Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Pelly Bay (Nov 11/02) - A former MLA with the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories pleaded guilty to a sex-related offence in the Nunavut Court of Justice Oct. 28.

John Ningark

Kugaaruk resident John Ningark pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault on a female minor.

The charge, stemming from an incident which occurred in Kugaaruk between 1975 and 1976, is categorized as sexual assault under the 2002 Criminal Code.

RCMP Cpl. Ron Smith of the Kugaaruk detachment said the court ordered that a pre-sentence report be completed by Ningark's next court appearance, scheduled for March 3, 2003.

A pre-sentencing report is like a character sketch of the perpetrator. It helps the judge determine how to proceed with the sentencing.

Ningark was also charged with one count to commit active gross indecency in relation to the incident. Smith said the judge presiding over the sentencing hearing would decide how to proceed with the second charge during the March appearance. Ningark currently works as the constituency assistant for Akulliq (Kugaaruk/Repulse Bay) MLA Ovide Alakannuaq.

Though he has never held office in Nunavut, Ningark represented the Natilikmeot (Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk) electoral boundary under the GNWT Legislature for a decade.

He was first voted into power in 1989 during a byelection. In 1991, he won the riding by acclamation and held onto the seat again in 1995.

Ningark served briefly as a cabinet minister, presiding over the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development as well as Government Services.

Ningark also chaired the former Legislature's Nunavut caucus -- a body of MLAs who resided in Nunavut -- until the Nunavut government came into power April 1, 1999.