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