JUNE 29, 1944

INUK CANADIAN SENATOR BUSINESSMAN CHARLIE WATT BORN

Watt, born in Fort Chimo (now Kuujjuaq], Québec (QB), founded the Northern QB Inuit Assn. (NQIA) [later the Makvik Corp.]. President of NQIA/Makvik from 1972–82, 1988-94, and 2018-present, he also formed the Labrador Inuit Assn. (1973)–its land claim led to a 2005 agreement granting the Inuit land & sea territory; helped negotiate the 1975 James Bay & Northern QB Agreement (land settlement); and helped incorporate Section 35 (Indigenous rights) into the Canadian Constitution. Other service: Co-chair, Inuit Committee (Comm.) on National Issues (1979–84); Nunavik Constitutional Comm. (1985–95); board member, Inuit Tapirisat Kanatami (1988-94); and President, Air Inuit Ltd. (1988-94). Appointed to the Senate in 1983, Watt was on the Standing Committees on Aboriginal Peoples (1977-2000, chairman); and Fisheries and Oceans before retiring in 2018. Awards: Officer, National Order of QB (1994); Indspire Award (1997); Queen’s Golden (2002) & Diamond (2012) Jubilee medals.

Source:  John Bennett, “Charlie Watt,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2/4/2008; updated by David Joseph Gallant, 3/10/2020.  Retrieved 4/3/2023, Charlie Watt | The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Photo:  Zachary Mann, 10/30/2012. Permissive Use. [Cropped by R. J. Sheehan].