PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG
Pangnirtung residents showed they had four times as much faith in Tommy Akulukjuk than in any other candidate running to represent the hamlet in the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA).

Tommy Akulukjuk was recently elected as a community director in Pangnirtung. He said he believes residents chose him because of the youthful energy he will bring to the job. - photo courtesy of Tommy Akulukjuk

The 31-year-old finished with 181 votes in the race to become Pangnirtung community director on Dec. 9, while the rest of the candidates garnered less than 50 votes each.

Beneficiaries elected a new vice president the same day. Larry Audlaluk finished with 864 votes, followed by Meeka Kilabuk with 637 votes, James Qillaq with 410 votes and Abraham Kublu with 340 votes.

Audlaluk and his family were relocated to Grise Fiord from Inujuak, Que. in 1953.

For most of his life he has fought for the community and its residents to get what they were promised by the government. He had been serving as interim vice president,

In 2008, he received the Order of Canada for his efforts.

"Larry's experience with QIA to date ensures that there is continuity in the executive to the issues at hand," stated QIA president Okalik Eegeesiak in a news release. "I look forward to working with both Larry and Tommy on key priority areas."

Voter turnout for the vice president election was 25 per cent, compared with 36 per cent for the election of Pangnirtung community director.

Akulukjuk attributes his success in the polls to his age.

He said he believes residents were looking for someone who could not only speaks Inuktitut and English, but who is young and energetic.

"What's been going on around Nunavut has always been kind of the same people, kind of traditional and having gone through residential school or having grown up around outpost camps. Then there is my generation, who embraces both cultures," said Akulukjuk.

"I think Nunavummiut should start expecting people around our age, like 30 years old and what not, to start contributing into the political scene in Nunavut."

During the territorial election, South Baffin voters elected 30-year-old David Joanasie to be their MLA. Travis Cooper, 34, and Qilak Kusugak, 38, also ran in the election.

The reason Akulukjuk entered the race for community director, he said, was to ensure a better flow of information between QIA and Pangnirtung.

He plans to use radio and social media to inform residents about the goings on within the organization.

"There is usually press releases and programs that QIA offers that a lot of community members don't really know about," he said.

"I think one of the big issues Pang will be dealing with is mining development around Baffin, especially around South Baffin. I just want the community to have a strong input on whatever is happening."

Akulukjuk grew up in Pangnirtung but left for seven years to live in Ottawa.

While living in the capital city he attended Nunavut Sivuniksavut and worked for Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and as a translator.

He returned to the community three years ago and now works as a planning and lands administrator for the hamlet.

Akulukjuk has fond memories of growing up in Pangnirtung, camping and hunting with his family.

He still enjoys those types of activities today but says he also loves playing video games, watching movies and reading graphic novels.

"No matter what culture you are, there is going to be people saying we are losing our heritage and what not," he said.

"It's just a matter of embracing both. We have to be prepared to gain and lose some stuff but we can't be worried about everything all the time ...

"There's only so much Inuit organizations and government can do about retaining culture. It has a lot to do with individuality and what people do as individuals."

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