Board of Directors

ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᓴᖃᓐᓂᕈᕕᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕕᖓᑦᑕ ᒥᑦᓵᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᕐᑕᐃᑦ ᒥᑭ ᐋᑕᒻᔅ.
If you have any questions about the Agency and the Board of Directors, please contact Stephanie Mikki Adams: 613-299-2352 or executivedirector@inuuqatigiit.ca

For the Board of Director’s Job description, click here. Candidates will need to complete a Police Record Check upon election.

In keeping with the philosophy of a community-driven organization, the by-laws of the Inuuqatigiit require that a majority of directors on the Board be parents of children enrolled in programs offered by the Inuuqatigiit, and a majority be Inuit. These measures ensure that all Inuuqatigiit programming is relevant to the community it serves. As such, our staff and Board of Directors are abreast of issues that Inuit families face in an urban setting. The Inuuqatigiit Board made changes to the 2011 By-Laws due in response to new legislation.

Our 2023-2024 Board of Directors

Amanda Kilabuk - President

Alyssa Flaherty Spence – Vice President 

Adam Gravel – Treasurer 

Felicia Tugak – Board Member 

Noelle Murphy – Board Member 

Kevin Qamaniq-Mason – Board Member 

Ashley Hilliard – Board Member 

Amanda Kilabuk (President)

Originally from Arviat, Nunavut, Amanda Kilabuk has served her life focusing, in both professional and voluntary capacity, on community-led initiatives that empower Inuit. Through her leadership in several agencies in the North, she has helped to create numerous innovative grassroots programming have promote skills and education, child development and research for the Inuit community. She spent her time in senior management roles at Tungasuvvingat Inuit as Manager of Employment, Director of Education and Employment and then Executive Director. She was instrumental in leading TI through the COVID pandemic, ensuring that there was access to food security, PPE and vaccines to staff and community members. From 2020 to 2023, she served TI as the Executive Director.

Over the past few years, Amanda has shifted her focus to address the myriad of issues facing Inuit women and girls. She played an active role in the MMIWG2S+ Urban Working Group and the Inuit Working Group which developed a National Action Plan and Implementation Plan. She was also appointed the Ontario’s first ever Indigenous Women’s Advisory Council in 2020. She is currently the Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit (MMIWG2S+) Urban Indigenous Action Group Director and works as a part-time consultant for Sivummut Solutions.

Being a RCMP spouse, she has spent some time in Rankin Inlet, Winnipeg, Iqaluit and currently resides in Ottawa. Amanda is the proud mother of three children Laura Hiquaq (18), Ryan Ulaayuk (16) and Emma Avinngaq (10). She is a “hockey mom”, and enjoys trying new recipes, cake decorating and travelling (particularly to hot places!)

Alyssa Flaherty-Spence

(Vice President)

Is of Inuit and Cree decent. She is a Nunavut beneficiary and considers Ottawa, ON and Iqaluit, NU home. Alyssa Flaherty-Spence is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with a degree in Political Science and Aboriginal Studies. Following her undergraduate studies, she successfully completed the Program of Legal Studies for Native Students at the University of Saskatchewan. Alyssa successfully completed her Juris Doctor with the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa in 2016.
Alyssa has worked with a number of Inuit organizations such as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), Nunavut Tunngavik, Inc. (NTI), Maliganiik Tukisiiniavik Legal Aid Services, Sivummut YWCA Women’s Shelter, and has experience as a Board Member for Pauktuutit Inuit Women’s Association of Canada. In her role with Pauktuutit she spoke in the House of Commons on behalf of the Pauktuutit Board of Directors on the impact of cut backs on Inuit women across Canada. Alyssa has travelled throughout Northern Canada and focuses her attention on Northern issues and law. Further, she spoke as a representative for Aboriginal woman and law students at the Ministers Roundtable for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Ottawa, Ontario.
Alyssa also volunteered with Level Justice in their Dare to Dream program in 2014-2015 during her legal studies and further continued on as the Director of Youth Outreach. Following her Juris Doctor she completed her 10-month Law Society of Upper Canada Articling Program with Dubuc-Osland Barristers and Solicitors where they focus on Inuit and First Nations Economic Development. Most recently, Alyssa completed her Law Society of Upper Canada Barrister and Solicitor licensing exams and will be Called to the Ontario Bar in January 2018 and will be a Ontario licensed lawyer.

Felicia Tugak

(Board Member)

An Inuk woman who takes pride in her culture and heritage. She has and still is learning her own Inuit culture values through thousands of years of living it. It helps brings all life a meaning and teaches people to stay humble. One of her favorite Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles is Inuuqatigiitsiarniq, it is an interminable meaning of being human and respecting.

We are open, caring, inclusive and learn from the wise to carry on their wisdom whom they’ve learned from our ancestors and their ancestors. Felicia now resides in Ottawa, very active within the Inuit/Indigenous community and is very excited to be part of an Inuit organization that help specific needs to urban Inuit. Ma’na, thank you!

Noelle Murphy

(Board Member)

A dedicated, bilingual registered nurse with over two decades of experience. Noelle is not only a passionate advocate for the Inuit community, but also an adoptive parent of an Inuit child, creating a deep personal commitment to the center’s mission.

Noelle’s career journey began with her educational foundation, including the RN and RPN Programs from Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario. Noelle’s commitment to lifelong learning is evident through her extensive certifications including the Indigenous Canada Course from the University of Alberta, Mental Health First Aid Certification, and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification. Noelle is an active and committed member of the board of directors at the

Inuuqatigiit Centre. Her involvement extends to working closely with the policy and procedures committee, where she leverages her expertise to drive meaningful change. Noelle also started initiatives such as a snowsuit drive to help ensure that urban Inuit children had warm clothing for

the winter. Noelle and her family have lived across Canada and had the privilege of living in Rankin Inlet, within the Kivalliq region of Nunavut for several years before relocating to Ottawa. Noelle Murphy’s journey as a board member at the Inuuqatigiit Centre, beginning in 2019, combined with her background as an adoptive parent of an Inuit child, uniquely positions her to aid the Inuit community and the well-being of Inuit children, youth, and families. Her dedication to excellence, compassion, and extensive experience in healthcare make her an asset to the organization and the community it serves.

Kevin Qamaniq-Mason

(Board Member)

Grew up in Iglulik, NU and has lived in Ottawa, ON since 2009. He has spent more than a decade advocating for Inuit in Ottawa as well as across Inuit Nunangat. Kevin worked at Tungasuvvingat Inuit for five years helping to address food insecurity, housing challenges, and Inuit involvement with child welfare. Kevin worked at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami for 4 years as a Senior Policy Advisor and a Senior Communications advisor before forming Akiani Consulting, a firm that he operates in partnership with his wife Mary Qamaniq-Mason. Akiani Consulting developed and piloted the first Inuit-specific foster parent training and assessment program in partnership with Tungasuvvginat Inuit and Inuuqatigiit. Akiani Consulting also planned and coordinated the first ever Ottawa Inuit Professionals Conference in 2023, and also regularly conduct workshops in Inuit history and cultural competency for public servants, social workers, and foster parents caring for Inuit children. Kevin and Mary have two beautiful children through custom adoption.