Canada appoints new commissioner for Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut
Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced this week that Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak has been named the new Commissioner of Nunavut.
Kusugak had a long career in education before she retired, teaching traditional culture in Canada’s Northwest Territories and eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut.
“Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak’s deep knowledge of Government and the Inuit language and culture make her an ideal choice as Commissioner of Nunavut and I am certain she will excel in this role,” Harper said in a news release on Tuesday.
The role of the Comissioner of Nunavut is similar to the role of Governor General in Canada, or Lieutenant Governor in Canada’s provinces.
Kusugak takes over as Commissioner from Edna Elias who served in the position since 2010.
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada creates new Polar Medal, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Sámi classes breathe new life into Finland’s rarest languages, Barents Observer
Greenland: (VIDEO) The importance of perserving the Inuit language, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Sami character keyboard app released, Barents Observer
Sweden: Social media strengthens Sami language, Yle News
Russia: More students in North Finland opting to study Russian, Yle News
United States: Alaska bill to be signed recognizing indigenous languages as official state languages, Alaska Dispatch
