NUNAVUT
"May 11 ... the lion will roar again," says Nunavut Commissioner Edna Elias, laughing.

Nunavut Commissioner Edna Elias, left, presents the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to famed Cape Dorset artist Kenojuak Ashevak in her home on Nov. 27, 2012. - photo courtesy of William Ritchie

After May 11, her final day of duty, Elias will return to her hometown of Kugluktuk and resume her own work.

"I've had to be careful," she says, "Not get myself in hot water. That's one thing as commissioner I really found hard. I've always been vocal in my life. Head of a woman's group and we voiced a lot in our community against violence against women and children. I've led a protest before the courthouse. I've had to be careful of sometimes, without thinking, making a comment.

"I've had to bite my tongue."

Previously an advocate in education, culture and language, Elias entered the private sector following her occupation as a teacher and school principal, and after holding a variety of public sector language-related positions.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Elias as the Fourth Commissioner of Nunavut on May 12, 2010.

"One day I'm being sworn in and the next day I'm swearing in an MLA from a by-election," she said, shaking her head.

The commissioner is the head of state in the territory, just as lieutenant-governors are in the provinces and the governor-general is nationally. All are the Queen's ceremonial stand-ins. In the legislative assembly, Elias performed swearing-in ceremonies for MLAs, for the premier and cabinet. She called in sessions of the legislative assembly and concluded sessions with assent to bills.

"It's honorary and protocol. If I didn't assent bills, they wouldn't become law," she said.

As the Chancellor of the Order of Nunavut, she bestowed that order annually. In her role as commissioner, she travelled the territory and listened to residents.

"I hear a lot of concern - housing problems, need for jobs, high cost of food."

In her role as commissioner, she says she could only listen.

"I hear them. I express my sentiments with them. But it's a non-political position. I can't give voice or become political with anything I hear."

Her role included presentations and inspections of Canadian Rangers and cadet corps and being present and speaking at military operations, such as Operation Nunalivut and Operation Nanook. The Commissioner's Awards is an ongoing program honouring bravery, volunteerism, special skills, community service, youth achievement and other humanitarian efforts.

Elias met many Nunavummiut who exemplify the best of humanity and she has countless stories of ordinary people accomplishing the extraordinary in daily life.

She also always made the time to present in schools when she visited a community, explaining the role and responsibilities of the commissioner in the context of leadership and governance.

She was sometimes nervous.

"One time I was addressing cadets after an inspection here, speaking to them at their year end, all of a sudden I got so nervous. In front of a group of young cadets, who I'd dealt with. It was just that very off feeling.

"They are just as impressive in what they're doing."

Elias' cool was tested on other occasions, such as when she presented famed Cape Dorset artist Kenojuak Ashevak with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, one of 30 to 40 medal recipients in Nunavut.

"To do something like that for the Queen, to honour Nunavummiut ... The majority of them now elders ... It's those types of honours that stand out."

She spent time with Princess Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the Queen's daughter-in-law, for four days in Iqaluit.

"It was a very high honour. I was very, very nervous. OK, this is royalty. I knew it was a working tour and it's different from an official tour, much less protocol. Still, I was very nervous for the first 10 to 15 minutes ... then it was over. I got to chill out with the princess."

Her proudest accomplishment, and her legacy, is Women of Action - Steps of Hope, a fundraising walk for breast cancer research at the Cross Cancer Institute she began in 2013. This year will be the third walk, 70 km from Hall Beach to Iglulik beginning May 1. Her goal is to raise $100,000, after raising $92,000 last year in the Kivalliq and slightly less the previous year in the Kitikmeot.

She will also be performing her final duties as commissioner in these communities, bestowing honours on residents. Meanwhile, Elias is already busy packing up her house in Iqaluit, preparing to return to Kugluktuk.

"You've probably heard that my dialect, Inuinnaqtun, is in ... not dire straits ... but it needs a lot of help, revitalizing it and bringing it up."

Along with her sister Millie Kuliktana and Suzie Evyagotailak, Elias will be active in an Inuinnaqtun mentor/apprentice program. The three are also working on opening a business together.

"Eat, sleep and dream Inuinnaqtun."

But, first, geese hunting.

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