Remembering Raymond Ningeocheak

(September 28, 2022 – Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) President Aluki Kotierk and Vice-President James Eetoolook express deep sadness on the passing of former NTI Vice-President and Board member Raymond Ningeocheak. “On behalf of Nunavut Inuit, I give my deepest condolences to Raymond’s family. He will forever be remembered as a true and selfless leader,” says President Aluki Kotierk. “For nearly forty years, Raymond put the advancement of Inuit before all else, a sacrifice which led to the finalization of the Nunavut Agreement. Raymond was one of the signatories of the Agreement as the Second Vice-President of Tungavik Federation of Nunavut. Nunavut owes much gratitude for his tireless work, and I am privileged to have worked with him for so many years,” says Vice-President James Eetoolook. In his role as Vice-President for NTI, Raymond and the late Louis Pilakapsi, were strong supporters of the late Simionie Qaunaq’s hunt of a bowhead whale at a time when it was prohibited. Raymond supported the protection of Inuit harvesting rights based on sustainable wildlife management. Raymond opposed the first court case, which was eventually stayed allowing for the legal harvest of one bowhead whale. Today, Nunavut sustainably harvests five bowhead whales. Raymond was a leader in Inuit self-determination in polar bear management, leading delegations to Qanaaq, Greenland and Nunavik to allow Inuit hunters to work together for sustainable management, cultural preservation and food security. This collaboration between Inuit forced governments to include Inuit Qaujimaningit in population estimates and harvesting quotas. NTI’s trichinella testing program is another legacy of Raymond’s work. Beginning in Iqaluit in 2017 as a pilot program to ensure timely access to safe country food, the program tests more than 100 walrus samples annually. Trichinella testing contributes to the overall wellbeing of Nunavut Inuit, from a cultural and nutritional perspective, and is also an important means to fighting food insecurity in Nunavut. Flags will fly at half mast outside of NTI and Regional Inuit Association offices until sunset on the day of Raymond Ningeocheak’s funeral.   Backgrounder In 1972, Raymond Ningeocheak began his long career as a strong advocate of Inuit self-government by serving as a member of community education committee, the Arctic Co-op Limited, and the Inuit Cultural Institute. Raymond served on Inuit Tapirisat of Canada board and established the Keewatin Regional Council, the precursors to Inuit Tapariit Kanatami and Kivalliq Inuit Association, respectively. He was also a Board member of the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut, the precursor to NTI. Raymond provided advice during the process of negotiation for what has become the largest land claims agreement in Canadian history. Raymond is a signatory to the Nunavut Agreement. When the Nunavut Agreement was finalized in 1993, Raymond was elected to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s Board of Directors as Second Vice-President and served in that role until 2011. Important dates: Inuit Tapirisat of Canada member from 1976- 1984 Inuit Tapirisat of Canada Vice-President from 1985-1988 Tungavik Federation of Nunavut member from 1983-1992 Kewaatin Regional Council 1990-1992 NTI Vice-President 1993-2011 Kivalliq Inuit Association Vice-President 2012- 2019  

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For further information: Shawn Watchorn A/Director of Communications Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated Tel: (867) 975-4900/Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
swatchorn@tunngavik.com

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