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IQALUIT - Members of the legislative assembly have chosen Iqaluit East MLA Eva Aariak as their new premier.

The former languages commissioner is the first woman to hold the job since the territory began, and only the territory's second premier.

Premier-elect Eva Aariak is congratulated by Iqaluit elder Simon Nattaq upon leaving the council chamber at the legislative assembly. She was chosen by her fellow MLAs in a leadership forum on Nov. 14, making her the first woman to hold the position since the creation of Nunavut. - Karen Mackenzie/NNSL photo

"I think this will be a symbol of change for everyone," she said.

Aariak was selected at a leadership forum at the legislative assembly in Iqaluit Nov. 14, in a race against Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley and outgoing premier Paul Okalik.

Okalik has held the position since Nunavut was created.

Change was the big byword on the floor during each candidate's 20-minute speech.

Aariak called for change of leadership, Curley called for a switch to an experienced alternative, and Okalik said change must come from the members themselves.

"As a premier, I am your servant. My direction is set by you," Okalik said.

Change is what they got.

Of the six cabinet members chosen by the members, only one - MLA Louis Tapardjuk - was a minister previously.

Joining him are Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove MLA Lorne Kusugak, Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson, Arviat MLA Daniel Shewchuk, Kugluktuk MLA Peter Taptuna and Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo.

Their portfolios will be appointed at a later date, along with one other cabinet position that has been aside until the candidate from Akulliq is in place.

Both Curley and Okalik declined nominations for cabinet.

"People wanted change ... I don't want to be there tainting the new administration in any way," Okalik said after the forum wrapped up.

Okalik said he is happy with the prospect of leaving the limelight behind.

"I'm relieved. I don't have to put up with any bad press ... I can live my life," he said. "I don't have the burden of carrying the territory anymore."

This was Curley's second run at premier, as he lost to Okalik in the leadership forum for the previous session.

Uqqummiut MLA James Arreak was acclaimed as the new Speaker of the legislative assembly, after being nominated by Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson.

He spent two previous years as Deputy Speaker.

Arreak's victory in the territorial election was recently confirmed, after a recount by Elections Nunavut showed him ahead by six votes.

The legislative assembly reconvenes Nov. 18, when new members will be sworn in.

"There is a lot of work ahead of us and we will have to prioritize some of the issues we talked about today," Aariak said. "It'll be a steep learning curve for me, as I was not directly involved with the legislative assembly."

An important aspect to her governance going forward will be to remove the "culture of fear," which a number of MLAs said permeated the government departments in the past years.

"It'll be very important to reassure the public service that they don't have to worry about that," she said.

Aariak said Friday she would also work to establish a child advocate along with appropriate legislation.