Jack Anawak
Encyclopedia
Jack Iyerak Anawak is a Canadian
politician. He represented the electoral district
of Nunatsiaq
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1988 to 1997. He sat in the house as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada
. Following his retirement from federal politics, he also served a term in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
after that territory was created in 1999.
, and served as the Liberal Party's opposition critic for Northern Affairs in the 34th Canadian Parliament
. Re-elected in the 1993 election
, which was won by the Liberals, he was named parliamentary secretary
to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in the government of Jean Chrétien
.
, but did not run for re-election in 2004.
Anawak attempted to run for a seat in the 2008 Nunavut general election
. He filed nomination papers to run in the electoral district of Akulliq
but was denied as a candidate by Elections Nunavut
Chief Electoral Officer Sandy Kusugak as he was not a full-time resident of Nunavut at the time his nomination papers were filed. Anawak took Elections Nunavut to court over and managed to halt the election in that district.
The case is currently before the Nunavut Court of Appeal, where the judge will decide whether or not to strike down the current election residency laws.
" [nanook, polar bear
] in honour of Canada's Inuit
people and their northern culture; however, this culturally meaningful proposal went largely unnoticed beside the simple, mass-appeal "Twonie/Toonie".
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician. He represented the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Nunatsiaq
Nunavut (electoral district)
Nunavut is a federal electoral district in Nunavut, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997. Nunatsiaq, its predecessor that covered the same area, was a federal electoral district in Northwest Territories, that was represented in the House of Commons from 1979...
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1988 to 1997. He sat in the house as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. Following his retirement from federal politics, he also served a term in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Canada, is located in Iqaluit, and is the territory's parliament.The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, on 7 October 2002, during her Golden Jubilee tour of Canada...
after that territory was created in 1999.
Federal politics
Anawak was first elected in the 1988 electionCanadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, and served as the Liberal Party's opposition critic for Northern Affairs in the 34th Canadian Parliament
34th Canadian Parliament
The 34th Canadian Parliament was in session from December 12, 1988 until September 8, 1993. The membership was set by the 1988 federal election on November 21, 1988, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1993 election.It was...
. Re-elected in the 1993 election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
, which was won by the Liberals, he was named parliamentary secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in the government of Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
.
Territorial politics
In 1999 he was elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of NunavutLegislative Assembly of Nunavut
The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Canada, is located in Iqaluit, and is the territory's parliament.The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, on 7 October 2002, during her Golden Jubilee tour of Canada...
, but did not run for re-election in 2004.
Anawak attempted to run for a seat in the 2008 Nunavut general election
Nunavut general election, 2008
The Third Nunavut General Election took place on October 27, 2008 to return members to the 3rd Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. The election was contested across 15 of Nunavut's 19 electoral districts under the first past the post system of voting...
. He filed nomination papers to run in the electoral district of Akulliq
Akulliq
Akulliq is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Canada.The riding consists of the communities of Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay.-1999 election:-2004 election:-2008 election:...
but was denied as a candidate by Elections Nunavut
Elections Nunavut
Elections Nunavut is an independent agency that oversees elections and plebiscites in Nunavut, including:* all general elections and by-elections for the 19 Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, according to the Nunavut Elections Act....
Chief Electoral Officer Sandy Kusugak as he was not a full-time resident of Nunavut at the time his nomination papers were filed. Anawak took Elections Nunavut to court over and managed to halt the election in that district.
The case is currently before the Nunavut Court of Appeal, where the judge will decide whether or not to strike down the current election residency laws.
Popular culture
When the Canadian two-dollar coin was introduced, a number of nicknames were suggested. Jack Anawak proposed the name "NanuqNanook
In Inuit mythology, Nanook or Nanuq , which is from the Inuit language for polar bear, was the master of bears, meaning he decided if hunters had followed all applicable taboos and if they deserved success in hunting bears....
" [nanook, polar bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
] in honour of Canada's Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
people and their northern culture; however, this culturally meaningful proposal went largely unnoticed beside the simple, mass-appeal "Twonie/Toonie".