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Mumilaaq Qaqqaq

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Mumilaaq Qaqqaq
ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ
Member of Parliament
for Nunavut
In office
21 October 2019 – 20 September 2021
Preceded byHunter Tootoo
Succeeded byLori Idlout
Personal details
Born
Trina Qaqqaq[1][2][3]

(1993-11-04) 4 November 1993 (age 31)
Baker Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada
Political partyNew Democratic (before 2022)
Residence(s)Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
This article contains Canadian Aboriginal syllabic characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of syllabics.

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq (Inuktitut: ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ; born 4 November 1993;[4] formerly known as Trina Qaqqaq) is a Canadian activist and former politician who served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Nunavut in the House of Commons from 2019 to 2021.

Elected in the 2019 Canadian federal election,[5] Qaqqaq was the first member of the New Democratic Party (NDP) to represent Nunavut since the creation of the territory in 1999; Peter Ittinuar (MP for Nunatsiaq) had previously represented what is now Nunavut as an NDP member until switching affiliation to the Liberal Party in 1982.[6] During her tenure, she was the only non-Liberal MP from Northern Canada.[5]

Early life and personal life

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Qaqqaq was born in Baker Lake, Northwest Territories, and later moved to Iqaluit.[7] She was formerly known as Trina Qaqqaq, but later on adopted Mumilaaq, a moniker given by her father. Mumilaaq means "dancing little one" in Inuktitut; Qaqqaq stated she adopted the name to reclaim her culture.[8]

Before her election to Parliament, she was a facilitator, public speaker, and volunteer, best known for a speech she made in the House of Commons on International Women's Day in 2017.[9] Qaqqaq's speech was a part of Daughters of the Vote, a program that brings young women to the House of Commons to speak about their visions for their country and home community. Qaqqaq's speech, in which she spoke about the high rates of Inuit suicide, drew two standing ovations.[10] She worked as an employment officer with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and as a wellness program specialist with the health department of the Government of Nunavut. She has held positions with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, working with Susan Aglukark in the Arctic Rose Foundation,[11] and with Northern Youth Abroad.[12]

On 23 October 2020, Qaqqaq announced she would be stepping aside for at least eight weeks for what she described as "personal health problems" based on advice from her doctor.[13] Qaqqaq returned on 5 January 2021 citing "extreme burnout, depression, and anxiety" as the reason for her leave.[14] Before her leave, she went on a three-week tour of the territory in a review of the housing situation Nunavummiut faced.[15][16]

Political career

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Qaqqaq was approached by the NDP to contest the 2019 Canadian federal election in Nunavut, and accepted their nomination in September 2019.[9] Qaqqaq's Conservative opponent in this race, Leona Aglukkaq, was the MP for Nunavut from 2008 to 2015, winning the seat in both the 2008 and the 2011 federal elections.[17] Aglukkaq had held four ministerial portfolios under Stephen Harper, including Minister of Health and Minister of the Environment. The Liberal incumbent, Hunter Tootoo, had been Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard from 2015 to 2016. Tootoo announced in July 2019 that he would not seek re-election, after resigning from the Liberal Party caucus and the cabinet in 2016.[18] Instead, the Liberal Party nominated Megan Pizzo Lyall, producing a noteworthy race in which the three major party nominees were all Inuit women.[19]

Qaqqaq's age at the time of her election, 25, was almost identical to the average age in Nunavut of 24.7.[6][9] This was viewed as an asset in her election,[20] and Qaqqaq emphasized the contrast between her recent entrance into federal politics and the Liberal and Conservative parties' histories of representing Nunavut.[9] During the campaign Qaqqaq's stated priorities were to reduce Nunavut's suicide rate, increase access to housing, and ensure food security in Nunavut.[6][21][22]

Qaqqaq's most recent initiative has been her emphasis on the effects of climate change, including mentioning unpredictable temperatures that cause strain on animal populations and create hazardous conditions for hunters.[23] Qaqqaq was also named critic for Northern affairs and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, also known as CanNor. The agency oversees the development of businesses, skills, and community infrastructure, and has a hand in resource development in the North.[24]

On 19 April 2021, Qaqqaq claimed that biracial Labrador MP Yvonne Jones was "not an Inuk," and southern Labrador is "not an Inuit region". Jones dismissed Qaqqaq's comments as "immature and naïve". Qaqqaq later issued an email statement apologizing "for how I handled the situation".[25]

On 20 May, Qaqqaq announced that she would not seek re-election at the 2021 Canadian federal election.[26] On 15 June, she gave a farewell speech explaining her actions such as her anger at her racist mistreatment by Parliament security and more importantly her frustrations about she felt she was accomplishing little against what she considered racist indifference to the serious social problems her constituents were enduring by the government who was performing the bare minimum in response and expecting praise for that.[27]

At a press conference on 8 July, Qaqqaq and fellow NDP MP Charlie Angus called on Justice Minister David Lametti to investigate "crimes against humanity," referring to the sexual and physical abuse of Indigenous children under the residential and day school system. They called on Lametti to appoint a special prosecutor specializing in cases of child abuse. They held portraits of two clerics involved in multiple cases of crimes against children, including that of Johannes Rivoire, whom France was refusing to extradite to face charges in Canada.[28][29]

Qaqqaq was succeeded by Lori Idlout in the 2021 election.[30][31]

Electoral results

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2019 Canadian federal election: Nunavut
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Mumilaaq Qaqqaq 3,861 40.8 +14.2 $5,618.37
Liberal Megan Pizzo Lyall 2,918 30.9 -16.2 $41,679.84
Conservative Leona Aglukkaq 2,469 26.1 +1.3 $88,289.32
Green Douglas Roy 206 2.2 +0.7 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 9,454 100.0
Total rejected ballots 88
Turnout 9,542 51.1
Eligible voters 18,665
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +15.35
Source: Elections Canada[32][33]

References

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  1. ^ Rohner, Thomas (13 September 2019). "Nunavut New Democrats opt for youthful advocate of change". Nunatsiaq News. In 2017, under the name "Trina" Qaqqaq, she appeared in the House of Commons chamber on International Women's Day and received a standing ovation after she spoke about Nunavut's suicide crisis.
  2. ^ "Trina Qaqqaq at Daughters of the Vote". Daughters of the Vote. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Trina Qaqqaq". CBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. ^ Rivet, France (26 January 2021). "Mumilaaq Qaqqaq". The Canadian Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b Frizzell, Sara (21 October 2019). "NDP's Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, 25, is Nunavut's next MP". CBC News. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Woods, Melanie (23 October 2019). "Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, Nunavut's New MP, Is Ready To Bring Her Voice To Ottawa". Huffington Post Canada. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  7. ^ LeTourneau, Michele (13 September 2019). "NDP turns to youth for Nunavut candidate, Mumilaaq Qaqqaq announced to run for MP". Nunavut News/North.
  8. ^ Neary, Derek (13 November 2019). "Qaqqaq to bring NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to Nunavut". Nunavut News. She was recognized as Trina Qaqqaq at the time, but has since adopted Mumilaaq as her preferred name. That's a moniker she inherited from her dad when she was just a toddler who liked to dance.
  9. ^ a b c d Rohner, Thomas (13 September 2019). "Nunavut New Democrats opt for youthful advocate of change". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  10. ^ Weber, Bob (23 October 2019). "This isn't about me:' Rookie Nunavut MP wants focus on problems of the North'". CBC News.
  11. ^ Driscoll, Kent (21 September 2019). "Nunavut's NDP candidate in federal election is 25, just like the Inuit who founded the territory". APTN. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  12. ^ Frizzell, Sara (13 September 2019). "NDP pledge to put youth first with 25-year-old candidate in Nunavut". CBC North.
  13. ^ "Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq stepping aside for at least 8 weeks". CBC. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  14. ^ Lum, Zi-Ann (5 January 2021). "Nunavut MP Returns To Work After 'Extreme' Burnout, Depression, Anxiety". HuffPost Canada. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  15. ^ Ritchot, Mélanie (5 January 2021). "Nunavut MP breaks silence in video statement". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  16. ^ Frizzell, Sara. "Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq returns from leave after 'burnout, depression' | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Nunavut's former Conservative MP to run in fall election". Nunatsiaq News. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  18. ^ Cohen, Sidney (30 July 2019). "Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo won't seek re-election". CBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  19. ^ Wood, Stephanie (21 October 2019). "Three Inuk women in close race for Nunavut's federal seat". National Observer. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  20. ^ Tranter, Emma (22 October 2019). "Nunavut's new member of Parliament ready to get to work". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  21. ^ Gibson, Victoria (15 October 2019). "Nunavut candidates say lack of political education, social issues remain barriers to voter turnout". iPolitics. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  22. ^ Tranter, Emma (16 October 2019). "Three of Nunavut's federal candidates face off in debate on food security". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  23. ^ Frizzell, Sara (1 December 2019). "NDP leader promises to push for climate action, affordable housing in Iqaluit". CBC News.
  24. ^ Neary, Derek (29 November 2019). "Mumilaaq Qaqqaq named NDP's critic for Northern affairs, economic development agency". Nunavut News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  25. ^ "Qaqqaq apologizes for telling Labrador MP, 'Validate your Inuk-ness'". Nunatsiaq News. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  26. ^ Mumilaaq Qaqqaq [@MumilaaqQaqqaq] (20 May 2021). "After weeks of reflection and consultation with friends and family, I've decided not to seek re-election. My full statement is here:" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "Watch Nunavut MP's powerful goodbye message highlighting racism in Canada". CBC. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  28. ^ Major, Darren. "NDP MPs call for investigation of child abuse at residential schools". CBC News. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  29. ^ "New Democrats want special prosecutor on residential schools, crimes against children". CTVNews. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  30. ^ McKay, Jackie. "NDP candidate Lori Idlout will be Nunavut's next MP". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CBC News. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  31. ^ Ritchot, Mélanie; Venn, David; Lochead, David (21 September 2021). "Lori Idlout holds onto Nunavut for NDP". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  32. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  33. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
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