Helen Maksagak

Helen Mamayaok Maksagak, CM (April 15, 1931 – January 23, 2009) was a Canadian politician. She served as the commissioner of the Northwest Territories from January 16, 1995, until March 26, 1999, and as the first commissioner of Nunavut from April 1, 1999, until April 1, 2000. She is a notable Copper Inuk.[1][2] Born on the land near Bernard Harbour in the Canadian Western Arctic, Maksagak was raised in Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik and the Bathurst Inlet area and eventually settled in Cambridge Bay to raise a family of six surviving children with her husband, John Sr. Together, they were stalwart supporters of the growing indigenous rights movement in the Canadian north. Their home was often a stopping place and site of discussions when young Inuit involved in negotiating the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement or participating in Northwest Territories political life passed through the community.

Helen Maksagak
CM
1st Commissioner of Nunavut
In office
April 1, 1999 – April 1, 2000
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
PremierPaul Okalik
Succeeded byPeter Irniq
Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
In office
January 16, 1995 – March 26, 1999
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
PremierNellie J. Cournoyea
Don Morin
Jim Antoine
Preceded byDaniel L. Norris
Succeeded byDaniel Joseph Marion
Personal details
Born(1931-04-15)April 15, 1931
Bernard Harbour, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut)
DiedJanuary 23, 2009(2009-01-23) (aged 77)
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut
Residence(s)Cambridge Bay, Nunavut

Maksagak was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories in 1992. In 1995, she was appointed as Commissioner, partially in anticipation of the pending creation of the territory of Nunavut in 1999. She was the first woman and the first Inuk to hold the office. In April 1999, she transferred her office to the new Nunavut Territory and continued to provide stability to the new government in transition. She served until April 2000 as the first commissioner of the newly created territory of Nunavut and then as Assistant Commissioner of Nunavut from 2005 until her death in 2009.

Helen Maksagak was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada in May 2003.[3] She served as a member of the Qulliit (Nunavut) Status of Women Council and as an Elder for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

Maksagak died on January 23, 2009, at the age of 77.[4] Helen Maksagak Drive in Iqaluit is named in her memory.

Arms
Coat of arms of Helen Maksagak
Notes
Granted 4 June 1996.[5]
Crest
A demi Inuk woman wearing an atigi styled in the manner of the Inuvialuit people Proper her dexter hand resting on an Inuit ulu Or.
Escutcheon
Purpure an Inukshuk of six stones Or.
Supporters
On a bank of snow Argent above barry wavy of three Azure Argent and Azure dexter a caribou Or gorged with a collar of mountain avens Proper sinister an arctic wolf Or gorged with a like collar.
Motto
Apkutikson Nalunaikniagiga (I Will Show The Way)

References
  1. "Helen Mamayaok Maksagak". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  2. "Backgrounder - Biography of Mrs. Helen Maksagak - Nunavut Deputy Commissioner". About INAC > Media Room > 2005 News Releases >. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. 2008-11-04. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  3. What an honour Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine - News North June 23, 2003 - retrieved May 2015
  4. "Helen Maksagak, Nunavut's first commissioner, dies at 77". Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. "Helen Mamayaok Maksagak". Canadian Heraldic Authorty. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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