Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak (born 1955) is a Canadian educator who served as the fifth
commissioner of Nunavut
The commissioner of Nunavut ( iu, ᑲᒥᓯᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ; Inuinnaqtun: ''Kamisinauyuq Nunavunmut''; french: Commissaire du Nunavut) is the Government of Canada's representative in the territory of Nunavut. The current commissioner since Janu ...
from June 2015 to June 2020.
Early life
Kusugak is from Rankin Inlet. Kusugak received a
BEd
A bed is an item of furniture that is used as a place to sleep, rest, and relax.
Most modern beds consist of a soft, cushioned mattress on a bed frame. The mattress rests either on a solid base, often wood slats, or a sprung base. Many beds ...
in 1996 through the Nunavut Teachers Education Program provided by
Nunavut Arctic College
Nunavut Arctic College ( iu, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒃ, french: Collège de l’Arctique du Nunavut, Inuinnaqtun: ''Nunavunmi Inirnirit Iliharviat'') is a public community college in the territory of Nunavut, Canada. The colleg ...
(NAC) and
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...
, where she is listed as an
adjunct professor
An adjunct professor is a type of academic appointment in higher education who does not work at the establishment full-time. The terms of this appointment and
the job security of the tenure vary in different parts of the world, however the genera ...
. She has been a teacher for about 20 years in both
Inuktitut
Inuktitut (; , syllabics ; from , "person" + , "like", "in the manner of"), also Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, is one of the principal Inuit languages of Canada. It is spoken in all areas north of the tree line, including parts of the provinces o ...
and English. Prior to her appointment as deputy commissioner, she was an adult educator at NAC in Rankin Inlet.
Political career
Kusugak served as Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut from 2010 to 2015. She was appointed by
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Minister may refer to:
* Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric
** Minister (Catholic Church)
* Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department)
** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...
,
Chuck Strahl
Charles Richard "Chuck" Strahl (born February 25, 1957) is a Canadian businessman and politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1993 to 2011. First elected for the Reform Party, he was the leader of the Democratic Representative Caucus that ...
, on 15 February 2010 and was sworn in on 25 February.
On 11 April 2010, Kusugak became the acting Commissioner of Nunavut with the expiry of
Ann Meekitjuk Hanson
Ann Meekitjuk Hanson (Inuktitut: ᐋᓐ ᒦᖀᑦᔩᒃ ᐦᐋᓐᓱᓐ/an miiqitjuk hansun; born May 22, 1946 in Qaktut, Northwest Territories, now Nunavut) was the third commissioner of Nunavut. She served from April 21, 2005 until April 10, 2 ...
's term and served until the appointment of
Edna Elias
Edna Agnes Ekhivalak Elias (born c. 1955) is a Canadian politician from Kugluktuk, Nunavut. On 12 May 2010 she was appointed as the fourth commissioner of Nunavut by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Her term ended on 11 May 2015.
Elias, who was i ...
a month later. As the territorial head of state, Kusugak represented all Nunavut citizens. While in office, she gave Assent to bills passed by the legislative assembly, swore in cabinet ministers, and signed off on documents, among other official duties.
Personal life
Kusugak was married to former
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI; , ) is the legal representative of the Inuit of Nunavut for the purposes of native treaty rights and treaty negotiation. The presidents of NTI, Makivik Corporation, Nunatsiavut, and the Inuvialuit Regional Cor ...
president,
Jose Kusugak
Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods.
*Jose ben Abin
*Jose ben Akabya
* Jose the Galilea ...
.
Jose Kusugak
Honours and Arms
* Member of the Order of Nunavut
The Order of Nunavut (french: Ordre du Nunavut, iu, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᓯᔾᔪᑦ ᐅᔭᒥᒃ, italic=no, translit=Nunavumni Ilisaqsijjutujamik, ikt, Nangariyauyunut Nunavunmi) is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian territory ...
* Louie Kamookak Medal, Royal Canadian Geographical Society
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS; French: ''Société géographique royale du Canada'') is a Canadian nonprofit educational organization dedicated to imparting a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada—its people ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kusugak, Nellie
1955 births
Living people
Commissioners of Nunavut
Inuit politicians
Women in Nunavut politics
People from Rankin Inlet
Canadian Inuit women
Inuit from the Northwest Territories
Inuit from Nunavut
Canadian indigenous women academics