Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday announced the appointment of Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak as Commissioner of Nunavut.
Mrs. Kusugak is currently the Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut, a position in which she has served since 2010. She is a retired instructor and teacher of traditional and cultural education in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
In 2014, Mrs. Kusugak received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her commitment to preserving and protecting the Inuit language and culture. She advances this work as a member of numerous steering committees and associations and as a volunteer in her community, sharing her passion, knowledge and expertise with others.
The appointment announced yesterday is the culmination of a process undertaken by the Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to thank the Honourable Edna Elias, the previous Commissioner, for her dedicated service to Nunavut since May 2010.
Territorial Commissioners are appointed by His Excellency the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and fulfill many of the same duties as the Lieutenant Governor of a province. They are responsible for swearing in Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of the Executive Council, opening the Legislative Assembly and providing assent for legislation passed by the Assembly.
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“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.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper
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Who is Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak?
Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak is currently the Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut, a position in which she has served since 2010. She is a retired instructor and teacher of traditional and cultural education in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. She is fluently bilingual in English and Inuktitut, which has helped to make her an influential member of the education community over the past few decades.
In 2014, Mrs. Kusugak received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her commitment to preserving and protecting the Inuit language and culture. She advances this work as a member of numerous steering committees and associations and as a volunteer in her community, sharing her passion, knowledge and expertise with others.
Through McGill University, Mrs. Kusugak received a teaching diploma certificate in Native and Northern Education while studying at the Arctic College in Rankin Inlet, and a Bachelor of Education in the Nunavut Teacher Education Program while studying at the Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit.
Mrs. Kusugak resides in Rankin Inlet. She raised four children with her late husband, Jose Amaujaq Kusugak, and is a grandmother to 13 grandchildren.
Bizim Anadolu / June 24, 2015
