New ITK President

Inuit Leaders Choose New Leader for National Inuit Organization, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Thursday, September 17, 2015 – Cambridge Bay, Nunavut – Natan Obed is the new President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national Inuit organization, following a vote by delegates at the close of the organization’s annual general meeting today.
Obed received 54% of the votes cast. The President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is chosen by a majority vote of the organization’s Member Representatives, their delegates, and the organization’s Vice-President.
“I would like to congratulate Natan and I look forward to working with him. As the new President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, he has the full support of the board of directors. I would also like to thank Terry Audla for his service to Inuit over the past three years,” said Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Vice President Duane Smith, who presided over the election.
Obed and Audla were joined by a third candidate, Jerry Komatsiutiksak. Each candidate delivered a 10-minute address to AGM delegates, followed by questions from delegates, and one round of voting.
Obed has held senior roles within the Labrador Inuit Association, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. At the regional level, he has served as a board member and acting president of the Nunavut’s Embrace Life Council, and as a trustee for the Nunatsiavut Government Labrador Inuit Capital Strategy Trust.
He has been chair of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s National Inuit Committee on Health and a member of the organization’s National Committee on Inuit Education.
“My priorities have been shaped by the processes I have been part of over the years and the grounding I have in Nunavut and Nunatsiavut with my family and friends,” Obed said in a letter submitted to the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami board of directors as part of his nomination package.
“I have learned so much by being a part of major processes such as helping create and implement the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy for NTI, or participating in the Kelowna Accord process at ITK, or helping implement the Impacts and Benefits agreement for the Voisey’s Bay nickel mine for the Labrador Inuit Association.”
For more information:
Patricia D’Souza
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
; 613-292-4482

To read Obeds’ election speech, click here, to go to ITK website.