Pauktuutit has announced Nikki Komaksiutiksak as its new president and chief executive officer.
According to a Tuesday press release from the national non-profit – which represents Inuit women across Canada – Komaksiutiksak, who is from Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, is an experienced throat singer and teacher of Inuit history and culture.
She was previously the executive director of Tunngasugit, an Inuit resource centre in Winnipeg. Pauktuutit named her Inuk woman of the year in 2023.
“Nikki is a wonderful addition to a line of great Inuit women that Pauktuutit has been privileged to have leading for change,” board chair Nancy Etok stated.
“She picks up the transformation journey that will empower Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit through leadership development and opportunities to advance self-determination.”
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Etok has been serving as interim president of Pauktuutit since former president Gerri Sharpe did not seek re-election.
“The role of Pauktuutit is more important now than ever,” Sharpe stated in a February 2024 news release.
“The issues our communities face continue to grow – Inuit women face the highest rates of violence in Canada, struggle to access culturally appropriate midwifery and health services, and work tirelessly to feed their families while battling high rates of food insecurity in Inuit Nunangat. My vision for Pauktuutit is that all Inuit women’s voices are heard, regardless of where they live.”
Komaksiutiksak takes over the role of chief executive officer from Rosemary Cooper, the organization’s first Inuit CEO, who is retiring effective Friday.
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“We are deeply grateful for Rosemary’s time with Pauktuutit and will be cheering her on as she makes this life change,” Tuesday’s release stated.
Also on Tuesday, the organization announced Joseph Phillips as its vice president of operations.
“Our team is passionate about the work that they do,” he stated.
“My job is to ensure that, day in and day out, they trust that our leadership supports that passion and empowers them to go above and beyond. When that happens, the possibilities are endless.”
