NUNAVUT
Paul Okalik's re-election as premier of Nunavut in March 2004 did not go unnoticed south of the border, where American diplomats lauded the veteran politician in an internal memo, which is currently available on whistleblower website, WikiLeaks.

Paul Okalik was the subject of a classified American memo in March 2004 following his re-election as premier of Nunavut. - NNSL file photo

Okalik, who now serves as the minister of the justice department, language department and culture and heritage department, was a popular favourite to retain his position after winning 77 per cent of votes in the Iqaluit West riding in 2004.

Three days after he was anointed premier by his peers, a memo was sent out March 8 from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, describing Okalik's personality and the future of the territory with him at the helm.

The document was made available in 2010 after more than 250,000 diplomatic cables were leaked to WikiLeaks and published over the following year as part of the Public Library of U.S. Diplomacy.

"Ogalik (sic) is a confident, articulate, liberal modernist, intent on moving Nunavut in the secular Canadian mainstream," the memo reads.

"He has created awareness of Nunavut nationally, successfully negotiating with the prime minister on issues such as increased health benefits for the territory, and participating at premiers' conferences. He ably represents Nunavut in international fora, and has visited aboriginal communities from Alaska to Australia."

The adulation continues as the unknown author points out that Okalik's desire to continue as premier is a sign that he has a "high tolerance for dealing with difficult financial responsibilities," and that he moves easily between Inuit and non-Inuit cultures.

They also remark that he can be seen around town attending traditional Inuit feasts - "without a bodyguard or retinue" - and comes across as a person well-integrated in Inuit culture.

The author also spoke to devolution discussions held with Okalik in 2003, and the lack of progress with the federal government on that issue.

"Conversation with him in Iqaluit last year and more recently with his staff reinforce his conviction that Nunavut must eventually gain control over non-renewable resources and get a share of resource revenue through what is now called a "devolution' agreement," i.e. the transfer of responsibility for mining, oil, and gas exploration and development from Ottawa to Nunavut," the document states.

"Such a deal would see the GN getting a share of renewable resource royalties. So far, however, there has been little or no response from the federal government."

The document ends by discussing Okalik's day-to-day challenges as premier, such as facing social issues and reducing the suicide rate, and states he needs to increase the proportion of Inuit working in the GN.

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