Okalik Egeesiak is currently president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. The group represents the 14,000 Inuit in the Qikiqtani (Baffin Region) of Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut. (CBC.ca)
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Okalik Eegeesiak, an Inuk from Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, is expected to become the next chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC).
Canadian Inuit leaders asked Eegeesiak to assume the position during an ICC-Canada board meeting on Friday.
“I am delighted to have the confidence of Canadian Inuit, and asked to take up this important position,” said Eegeesiak in a news release shortly after the announcement.
ListenInuit Circumpolar Council – Quick Facts
- non-governmental organization founded in 1977 in Barrow, Alaska
- represents roughly 150,000 Inuit in Canada, Greenland, the United States and Russia
- general assembly held every four years
- promotes Inuit rights and culture
The ICC rotates its General Assembly and Chair between member countries every four years.
It’s expected that Eegeesiak will officially assume the position at the ICC General Assembly in the Arctic Canadian city of Inuvik in July 2014.
“I look forward to working with the ICC offices in Alaska, Russia, and Greenland to determine how best to share with Canadians the important work that needs to be done by all Inuit and for all Inuit,” Eegeesiak said.
The current Chair of ICC is Greenland’s Aqqaluk Lynge.
Related Links:
Inuit group calls on Canada to better fund Arctic research, CBC News
2010 Eye on the Arctic Interview with Aqqaluk Lynge on language preservation in the Arctic
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