NOVEMBER 26, 1947

INUIT PUBLIC SERVANT AND “FATHER OF NANAVUT” JOHN AMAGOALIK BORN

Amagoalik was born in Nunavik, Québec. In 1953, the Canadian Government relocated his family to a harsh life in Resolute Bay. John’s career: Baffin Regional Information Officer (1971-74); Executive Director, Nunavut Land Claims Project (1974); Director of Land Claims, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (1975); President, Inuit Tapiriit of Canada; and member, Executive Council of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (1980-83). With the creation of Nunavut in 1993, he led Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated’s land-claims settlement process and chaired the Nunavut Implementation Commission (1993-99). John also helped obtain Canada’s official apology & financial compensation for the relocated families (2010). An author & journalist, John wrote for Inuit Today magazine & Nunatsiaq News (1995-2002). His autobiography, Changing the Face of Canada: The Life Story of John Amagoalik was published in 2007. Awards: Order of Nunavut (2014); Officer, Order of Canada; and Indspire Award (both 2019).

Sources:
Mark Nuttall, Encyclopedia of the Arctic (2005).  Retrieved 11/15/2024,   https://books.google.com/books?id=Swr9BTI_2FEC&pg=PA74#v=onepage&q&f=false
“John Amagoalik,” Inuit Literatures.  Retrieved 11/15/2024,     https://inuit.uqam.ca/en/person/amagoalik-john
“John Amagoalik,” Indspire.  Retrieved 11/15/2024, https://indspire.ca/laureate/john-amagoalik-2/
Flag Design:  James Leigh, 11/25/2005.  Flag of Nunavut.  Public Domain.