 |
Jack AnawakMember of the House of Commons of Canada from 1988 to 1993. Transitional Commissioner of Nunavut (before the territory was created in 1999). Considered one of the founders of Canadian Confederation.
Date of Birth: 26.09.1950
Country:  Canada |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Jack Anawak was born to Donat and Margaret Anawak in Repulse Bay, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut). At the age of one month, he was adopted by his maternal uncle and aunt, Lionel Angotingoara and Phillippa Piowak, as his parents were unable to raise him due to their traditional Inuit lifestyle. Anawak's foster mother's untimely passing delayed his enrollment in school until the age of 11. He attended school in Chesterfield Inlet and Repulse Bay, but left at the age of 14 to work in Rankin Inlet for the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1973, he returned home to spend more time with his family. It is known that two of Anawak's brothers committed suicide.
Political Career
Anawak's political journey began with a seat on the Repulse Bay community council. His active participation led to an invitation to join the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. He served on the council until 1981, when he moved back to Rankin Inlet.
In 1988, Anawak won the federal election in Nunatsiaq (now the riding of Nunavut) as a Liberal candidate. In Parliament, he held the portfolio of Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and was known for frequently speaking in Inuktitut.
Following the passage of the Nunavut Act in 1993, Anawak became the Transition Commissioner for the new territory. He ran in the first Nunavut legislative election and represented Rankin Inlet North.
Premiership and Election Dispute
On March 5, 1999, Jack Anawak lost the Nunavut premiership election to Paul Okalik. In 2008, Anawak was disqualified from running in the territorial election because he had not resided in Nunavut for the past twelve months. He contested the decision in court. A similar situation occurred in the subsequent election in December 2009.
