OTTAWA, August 11, 2023 – At our recent Special Board Meeting, the Pauktuutit Board of Directors appointed new members to fill two vacant positions. Elisapee Sheutiapik will now represent Iqaluit, NU, and new member Iselena Natsiapik is the Youth Representative for Inuit Nunangat. Both will serve as Board members until the next Annual General Meeting, (AGM), scheduled for early 2024.

Elisapee Sheutiapik is a returning executive member, who served as Pauktuutit’s president from 2010-2014. Most recently, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, in 2017, and was the Government House Leader during her term. She served as the MLA for Iqaluit-Sinaa, the Minister Responsible for Family Services and Qulliit Status of Women until October 2022. Prior to that, she was the mayor of the City of Iqaluit, from 2003 – 2010.

Born and raised in Iqaluit, Iselena Natsiapik is the newly appointed Youth member representing Inuit Nunangat. She worked for Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s (QIA) Q-STEP initiative offering skills development for Inuit working in mining and other industries and is a recent graduate of Inuit Studies at Nunavut Arctic College.

President Gerri Sharpe, Vice-president Nancy Etok, and Secretary-Treasurer Charlotte Wolfrey look forward to welcoming the new members as they join the current members, including,

• Martha Flaherty as the Urban, South-East representative
• Paige Kimiksana-Kreps as the Urban, Youth representative
• Esther Aglukark-Powell representing Kivalliq
• Catherine Mitsuk representing Happy Valley-Goose Bay
• Sara Idlout representing Nunavik, Hudson
• Lois (Looee) Mike representing Qikiqtani South
• Josephine Tucktoo representing Kitikmeot
• Kourtney Wolkie representing Inuvialuit
• Lillian Lundrigan as the Urban, South-West representative

President Sharpe stated, “We are certain that the new appointees will be strong additions to our leadership team, and we welcome them to the organization.”

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Media contact: Catherine Whittaker, 343-804-0881, or communications@pauktuutit.ca.

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada is the national non-profit organization representing all Inuit women in Canada. Its mission is to foster a greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, and to encourage their participation in community, regional and national concerns in relation to social, cultural, and economic development.