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PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES DIPLOMATIC
APPOINTMENT
December 2, 2003
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chretien today announced the appointment of Jack Anawak
as Canada's Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs.
The Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs represents Canada at international
meetings on circumpolar issues; consults with interested Canadians, particularly
northern governments and Aboriginal groups; and coordinates Canada's
participation in the Arctic Council, which was created in 1996 to advance
circumpolar cooperation.
Mr. Anawak succeeds Mary Simon, who served as Ambassador for Circumpolar
Affairs from October 1994 until her recent retirement.
A biographical note on the appointee is attached.
Biographical Note
Jack Anawak was born near Repulse Bay, Nunavut. He was raised in traditional
outpost camps in the Kivalliq region, where he learned the traditional Inuit
survival skills. Mr. Anawak was educated in Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, and in
Churchill, Manitoba. He also studied business management in Saskatchewan.
Mr. Anawak has served as hamlet councillor and mayor of Rankin Inlet. He has
also served on the executive board of the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut and as
Speaker of the Keewatin Regional Council. Mr. Anawak is also a former president
of the Keewatin Chamber of Commerce.
In 1986, Mr. Anawak was appointed Executive Director, and was later elected
President, of the Keewatin Inuit Association, where he served until his election
to Parliament in December 1988.
Mr. Anawak served two terms as the Member of Parliament for Nunatsiaq. During
that time, Mr. Anawak served as Official Opposition critic for Northern Affairs
and Environment, Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and
Northern Development, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian
Affairs and Northern Development.
In April 1997, the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development appointed Mr. Anawak Interim Commissioner of Nunavut. As Interim
Commissioner, he was responsible for establishing the administrative framework
for the new Nunavut government, Canada's third territorial government.
Mr. Anawak resigned from his position as Interim Commissioner in January 1999
to run in the first election for the Government of Nunavut, and in February 1999
the constituents of Rankin Inlet North elected him to the Nunavut Legislative
Assembly, where he served as Minister of Justice; Community Government; and
Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Mr. Anawak and his wife, Caroline, have 17 children, including seven adopted
children and seven foster children.
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