Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
Nellie Kusugak | |
Honorific Suffix: | ONu |
Nationality: | Canadian |
Order: | 5th |
Office: | Commissioner of Nunavut |
Term Start: | 23 June 2015 |
Term End: | 22 June 2020 |
Predecessor: | Edna Elias |
Successor: | Rebekah Williams (acting) |
Term Label2: | Acting |
Term Start2: | 11 April 2010 |
Term End2: | 31 May 2010 |
Predecessor2: | Ann Meekitjuk Hanson |
Successor2: | Edna Elias |
Primeminister2: | Stephen Harper |
Premier2: | Eva Aariak |
Order3: | Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut |
Term Start3: | 15 February 2010 |
Term End3: | 23 June 2015 |
Predecessor3: | Helen Maksagak |
Primeminister3: | Stephen Harper |
Premier3: | Eva Aariak Peter Taptuna |
Birth Name: | Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak |
Birth Place: | Rankin Inlet, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut), Canada |
Spouse: | Jose Kusugak |
Occupation: | educator |
Profession: | politician |
Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak (born 1955) is a Canadian educator who served as the fifth commissioner of Nunavut from June 2015 to June 2020.[1] [2] [3]
Kusugak is from Rankin Inlet.[4] Kusugak received a BEd in 1996 through the Nunavut Teachers Education Program provided by Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) and McGill University, where she is listed as an adjunct professor. She has been a teacher for about 20 years in both Inuktitut and English. Prior to her appointment as deputy commissioner, she was an adult educator at NAC in Rankin Inlet.[5]
Kusugak served as Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut from 2010 to 2015. She was appointed by Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Chuck Strahl, on 15 February 2010 and was sworn in on 25 February.[6] [7] On 11 April 2010, Kusugak became the acting Commissioner of Nunavut with the expiry of Ann Meekitjuk Hanson's term and served until the appointment of Edna Elias a month later.[8] As the territorial head of state, Kusugak represented all Nunavut citizens.[9] While in office, she gave Assent to bills passed by the legislative assembly, swore in cabinet ministers, and signed off on documents, among other official duties.[10]
Kusugak was married to former Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president, Jose Kusugak.[11]
Escutcheon: | Per pale Azure and Gules an inuksuk between three ulus Or and in chief a snow knife fesswise Argent hilted Or. |
Crest: | A flower Gules seeded of a woman’s face proper all within a timber frame Or. |
Supporters: | Two snow buntings each gorged of a collar of Inuit beadwork proper pendent therefrom a maple leaf conjoined in base with an ulu Or, both standing on a base of snow set with two qulliqs and purple saxifrage flowers all flanked by waves proper and issuant from a bar of an Inuit tattoo pattern Sable. |
Motto: | ᓇᒡᓕᖕᓂᖅ ᐃᓚᒌᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓴᐱᓕᔪᐃᑦᑑᓂᖅ;[12] |