Duane Smith acclaimed as chair of IRC in Canada’s western Arctic
Duane Smith, the incumbent chairperson and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC), has been acclaimed for a new term, the IRC said Thursday.
The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation represents Inuit in the Northwest Territories (N.W.T) in Canada’s western Arctic.
Two candidates, Smith and Patrick Gruben, were on the ballot but Gruben officially withdrew on January 19.
“As such, Duane Smith is acclaimed as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, with his term commencing on January 26, 2022,” the IRC said.
The vote had been scheduled to be held on January 26.
The Inuit population in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) is 3,115.
In all, 42 directors in the six ISR communities: Aklavik, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Inuvik, Ulukhaktok and Tuktoyaktuk; would have voted for the new chairperson.
Smith was first elected IRC chairperson in 2016.
Write to Eilis Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories around the North:
Canada: Kenny Bell is Iqaluit’s new mayor as municipal elections held across Canada’s Nunavut territory, CBC News
Greenland: Greenland’s more prominent role on Arctic Council important signal to int’l community says foreign minister, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Silje Karine Muotka is new President of the Sámi Parliament in Norway, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Land use rights a key issue in this year’s Sami parliamentary elections in Sweden, Radio Sweden
