MARCH 24, 1954

INUIT BROADCASTER, LEADER ROSEMARIE ESTHER KUPTANA BORN

Kuptana, born in Sachs Harbor, Northwest Territories (NWT), became active in Inuit organizations in 1975 as the Inuit & Canada first discussed Inuit land rights. In 1979, broadcasting on CBC Western Arctic, she focused on such issues as Inuit land negotiations & Beaufort Sea oil & gas exploration. Kuptana later became Production Coordinator & President of Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (1983-88) and helped launch Television Northern Canada. Leaving broadcasting, she became: Canadian Vice-President, Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) (1986-89); ICC President (1995-98); President, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (1991-96); and lead negotiator for Inuit self-government. Awards: Member & Officer, Order of Canada; Governor General’s Confederation Medal; Northern of the Year Award & MacLean’s Magazine Honour Roll (1992); National Aboriginal Achievement Award (1994); Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002); Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).

Source: “Biographic Sketch of Rosemarie Kuptana, President, Inuit Circumpolar Conference,” Center for World Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Peoples.  Retrieved 6/24/2021, Biographic Sketch of Rosemarie Kuptana, President, Inuit Circumpolar Conference (nzdl.org)
Flag: Retzyn, 3/2/2021. The flag of the Inuvialuit people, recreation from this image: https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/c/ca_inuv.jpg. Public Domain.