The candidates: Tununiq

Pond Inlet (pop. 1,794) is one of Nunavut's most stunning communities. Situated on the north coast of Baffin Island, the hamlet faces the ice-capped mountains of Bylot Island (home to Sirmilik National Park) and backs onto the waters of Lancaster Sound with its annual narwhal migration.

It is the closest community to the Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.'s Mary River Mine, which employs several hundred Inuit and non-Inuit and has had a massive impact on the community.

This past winter, a dispute over Baffinland's planned expansion led to a blockade of the mine site's airport, which led to a shutdown of all operations at Mary River.

In this constituency, Joshua Arreak and Karen Nutarak are challenging the incumbent David Qayaakuttuk Qamaniq.

CBC has reached out to all candidates with a list of questions in Inuktut and English, as well as consulted candidates' own online campaign messages. The available information has been edited for length and clarity.

Joshua Arreak

Joshua Arreak was born in Alexandra Fiord on Ellesmere Island where his father was a special RCMP constable, but was raised in Pond Inlet.

A graduate of Churchill Vocational School and the Anglican seminary in Pangnirtung, Arreak has lived in many communities in Nunavut and Nunavik.

Arreak said he's running for MLA because he has gained a lot of experience working a variety of jobs, holdinga board appointment and working as a priest.

Arreak, on leave from his position as mayor, told CBC he would work closely with the people of Pond Inlet.

He said, if elected, he's not interested in being premier. He would consider being a cabinet minister but local issues are key for him.

These include better infrastructure, such as a new water system, and working to see Pond Inlet become a northern Baffin hub.

Arreak said he would also push to see elder care facilities for Nunavut.

Karen Nutarak

Karen Nutarak was born in Iqaluit and raised in Pond Inlet.

She holds a Grade 12 diploma and an adult education certificate from St. Francis Xavier University, among other studies.

Since 2009, Nutarak has worked as the adult educator for the Community Learning Centre at Nunavut Arctic College's Pond Inlet campus.

Nutarakhas volunteered in cultural performances since 1995 with the Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group.

In 2015, Nutarakco-founded the Pirurvik Preschool in Pond Inlet, which provides early childhood education based on IQ and Montessori principles. In 2019, the preschool project won $1 million from the Arctic Inspiration Prize for its innovations, which are now being used in seven community daycares.

In March 2020, Nutatak, who has also managed the Pond Inlet visitors centre, started her own business, Atii (Let's go) Tourism.

Throughout her career, Nutarak said she has advocated for her community, education, health and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.

Nutarak said, if elected, her priorities would include improving both the consistency and access to health care and mental health services.

David Qayaakuttuk Qamaniq (incumbent)

Brought into the legislature by a 2019 byelection, Qamaniq, a former mayor of Pond Inlet, was born in an outpost camp, moved to Pond Inlet in 1964 and has lived there ever since.

He has worked in the oil fields and as a hamlet sewage truck driver, and also served as a Qikiqtani Inuit Association Inuit impacts and benefits agreement negotiator for the Mary River Mine.

At the last sitting of the assembly, Qamaniq brought up the long-standing problems with Pond Inlet's water system. After nearly a year of stopgap fixes, the system was finally working last year, but there are still issues and a new system won't be put in place until 2022.

Qamaniq also wanted to know the status of the airport in Pond Inlet, which he said needs to be brought to a higher standard.