Mumilaaq Qaqqaq is a Canadian activist and politician, currently serving as the member of Parliament for Nunavut in the House of Commons of Canada since her election in 2019. Qaqqaq is the first member of the New Democratic Party to represent Nunavut since the creation of the territory in 1999; Peter Ittinuar previously represented what is now Nunavut as an NDP member until switching affiliation to the Liberal Party in 1982. In addition, she is currently the only non-Liberal MP from Northern Canada.
Early life
Qaqqaq was born in Baker Lake, Nunavut, and later moved to Iqaluit. She was formerly known as Trina Qaqqaq, but later on adopted Mumilaaq, a moniker given by her father. Mumilaaq means "dancing little one" in Inuktitut; Qaqqaq stated she adopted the name to reclaim her culture. Before her election to Parliament, she was a facilitator, public speaker, and volunteer, best known for a speech she made in the House of Commons on International Women's Day in 2017. Qaqqaq's speech was a part of Daughters of the Vote, a program that brings young women to the House of Commons to speak about their visions for their country and home community. Qaqqaq's speech, in which she spoke about the high rates of Inuit suicide, drew two standing ovations. She worked as an employment officer with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and as a wellness program specialist with the health department of the Government of Nunavut. She has held positions with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, working with Susan Aglukark in the Arctic Rose Foundation, and with Northern Youth Abroad.
Political career
Qaqqaq was approached by the New Democratic Party to contest the 2019 Canadian federal election in Nunavut, and accepted their nomination in September 2019. Qaqqaq's Conservative opponent in this race, Leona Aglukkaq, had represented Nunavut in Canadian Parliament from 2008 to 2015, winning both the 2008 and the 2011 federal elections in Nunavut. Aglukkaq had held four ministerial portfolios under Stephen Harper, including Minister of Health and Minister of the Environment. The Liberal incumbent, Hunter Tootoo, had been the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard from 2015 to 2016. Tootoo announced in July 2019 that he would not seek re-election, after a scandal had prompted the Liberal Party to remove him from their parliamentary caucus in 2016. Instead, the Liberal Party nominated Megan Pizzo Lyall, producing a noteworthy race in which the three major party nominees were all Inuit women. Qaqqaq's age at the time of her election, 25, was almost identical to the average age in Nunavut of 24.7. This was viewed as an asset in her election, and Qaqqaq emphasized the contrast between her recent entrance into federal politics and the Liberal and Conservative parties' histories of representing Nunavut. During the campaign Qaqqaq's stated priorities were to reduce Nunavut's suicide rate, increase access to housing, and ensure food security in Nunavut. Qaqqaq's most recent initiative has been her emphasis on the effects of climate change, including mentioning unpredictable temperatures that cause strain on animal populations and create hazardous conditions for hunters. Mumilaaq Qaqqaq was also named critic for Northern affairs and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, also known as CanNor. The agency oversees the development of businesses, skills, and community infrastructure, and has a hand in resource development in the North.
