Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Gjoa Haven (Apr 12/04) - Peter Akkikangnaq, 59, has resigned as mayor of Gjoa Haven, citing a conflict of interest with his role with the Nunavut Impact Review Board.

"For being part of (NIRB) and being the mayor, there's big conflict between," he said last week.

Akkikangnaq said he has been planning his departure from the hamlet council because of this conflict for six months.

NIRB executive director Stephanie Briscoe said Akkikangnaq didn't have to resign as mayor.

"It was unfortunate if he felt pressured, but there were two or three different options available to him and that is the one he chose."

Among the options was to not take part in decisions that affected his region.

Akkikangnaq's last day as mayor was Tuesday, April 6.

The departure has opened the door for Josephine Kamookak, who has been named acting mayor of Gjoa Haven.

If council elects her officially into the mayor's role, Kamookak will become only the second woman in the hamlet's history to be at the helm of the community.

The very first mayor of Gjoa Haven was Rita Porter in 1985.

The eight-member Gjoa Haven council will discuss the changes to council at their next meeting on Tuesday, April 13.

Much to do

Raymond Kamookak, SAO for Gjoa Haven, said his sister-in-law has her work cut out for her, but the hamlet has a strong group of employees right now who know how to pull together to get things done.

"We're going to help her out," said Raymond. "I don't think she's going to have any problems."

Although there is a change in mayors, Gjoa Haven is one of the few hamlets not mired in financial trouble -- currently reporting a surplus.

George Porter, whose sister Rita served as the first mayor of Gjoa Haven, said guiding the community is not easy.

"I hope she'll do it," Porter said of Josephine. "It's hard when you are just starting out."

Josephine Kamookak could not be reached for comment last week.

Akkikangnaq was elected as mayor in 2003, and said he enjoyed the job. "Nobody shouted at me. It was OK," he said.

But he said that being part of NIRB -- part of the discussions about all the mining development opening up in the region -- is too exciting for him to pass up.

"For me, it's exciting," said the outgoing mayor. "Diamond here, diamond there."