Makivik Magazine Issue 65

mail, or Internet, and we certainly were not
risking using irregular mail services.
“We held the first Youth Council
meeting in Puvirnituq because of the availability
of facilities and regular air service.
Remember, there were no airports and
community centres or even school gymnasiums
and hotels. In Puvirnituq, they had
just built a new school and with a little
bit of arm twisting, we used the old federal
day school classroom all to ourselves...
rent free! Some families were even
eager to take in guests for free. Our only
expense was airline tickets and air charters.
(Meanwhile) I was from Puvirnituq at
the time, and I was just as eager to “get
out of town” as anybody else.”
“Your questions bring back fond
memories, and I want to take this opportunity
to thank the good directors I had
and many youth I met and worked with.
I made new and lasting friendships with
many young people. My heart goes out to
the families of the late Simeonie Baron
and Anna Putugu, who were among the
first directors of the youth council. I had
the privilege of working and sharing many
ideas and discussions with them.”
From there, I then wrote to Mar y
Simon who, at the age 31, was Makivik’s
first corporate secretary. Today she is the
Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar
Affairs. In her capacity today, Mar y is
able to serve not only the Inuit of Nunavik,
but also Inuit from all of Canada, as well
as other northern Aboriginal peoples and
northern Canadians.
She had the following to share: “A
tremendous amount of change has taken
place in the last 25 years. Arctic
residents, – in particular Inuit and other
indigenous peoples – are better equipped
now than in the past to participate forcefully
and consecutively in national, regional
and global political and economic decision
making. Over the past 10 years, many
positive changes have occurred in both
policy and legal relationships between
Arctic indigenous peoples and government,
creating a more equitable basis for
the productive partnership that will continue
to emerge.”
Mary Simon also wished to express
thanks to Nunavik’s past and present leaders
who paved the path in development for
youth councils, committees and centres.
When I saw that picture of the 1976
youth meeting, I realized how true it is that
youth today are our future leaders, and
many of those people from the photo are
now mayors, chairmen, teachers, and board
members for organizations in Nunavik. My
heartfelt thanks go out to all of those who
came before, to pave the way for the work
that we are continuing on with.
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Jimmy Johannes strumming the six-string.
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Name:
Aquyaq Qissiiq
Date of birth: January 4, 1951
Place of birth:
Tiliigarvik, 15 miles south of Kangiqsujuaq
Home community: Kangiqsujuaq
Favourite people: My parents, Johnny “Pakkarti” and Lizzie “Najummi”
Favourite sport: Inuit games, especially tug of war
Favourite food:
Caribou, fish and muttaq
Occupation:
Coordinator for the Traditional Survival Skills Heritage
Program
Future goals:
To see more young people out hunting
Most difficult obstacle
to overcome:
When a person commits suicide
Pet peeve:
When anyone tells lies about a person who is not there
to defend themself.
FILE PHOTO
MAKIVIK magazine
75