MUMILAAQ QAQQAQ will not run in the next elections to defend the Inuit’s basic human rights

  di Odoardo di Santo

MUMILAAQ QAQQAQ Member of Parliament for Nunavut last Thursday announced that she will no longer run in the next elections.

Nunavut is the largest constituency in the world covering the Arctic Archipelago with an area of ​​2 million and 93 thousand square kilometers in the far north of Canada with a population of about 39 000 inhabitants scattered in remote villages accessible only by air or boat.

MUMILAAQ,  named  by her father, meaning "the little girl who dances" was born on November 4, 1993 .As a young Inuk woman was involved in her community working for the Territorial government  as an official in the employment sector and as a facilitator and volunteer.

In 2017 she suddenly came to the fore.

On the occasion of International Women's Day she spoke to Parliament about her vision of Canada and its community and revealed the high number of suicides in her community.

She got a standing ovation.

At the age of 25 - the average age of her community –in 2019 she was elected to the Federal Parliament as a member of the NDP, animated by the hope of being able to help heal the historic injustices suffered by the indigenous communities of Canada.

After two years her dreams vanished in the face of the wall of indifference and the cynicism of the system of power rooted in Ottawa.

With sadness and disappointment she threw in the towel convinced of the impossibility of inducing the powerbrokers to change a situation that has persisted for hundreds of years.

She made it clear however that she will not stop fighting for the basic human rights of her people.

Her announcement was not an act of rebellion or defiance but a cry of pain and a plea to Canadians whom she considers allies to put pressure on those in power.

In a passionate speech and in an article in the Toronto Star, she clarified the meaning of her decision with eloquent and heartbreaking words that we only summarize because they do not need comment.

“I had come to Ottawa - she writes - looking for help for my people but nobody cares to act.

We have the highest suicide rate in the world. The cost of housing is beyond the possibilities of the Inuit.

Mould and overcrowding in public housing is the norm.

Many do not have drinking water all year round.

There is a food security crisis.

In the capital  of Iqualuit, a gallon of milk costs $ 20.

In addition, the racism, sexism and ageism I encountered in Ottawa as a young Inuk as well as the structures of federal institutions create a huge barrier for an MP who represents Nunavut, regardless of party.

For the largest constituency in the world, I cannot serve my constituents because they give me a smaller budget than certain urban constituencies in the south where voters can access their representatives by subway or other public transport.

Having to face these problems is already insurmountable but I have to hear the rhetoric of the MPs, the liberal ministers and the Prime Minister himself on "reconciliation" and " transfomational changes" while I do not see real changes.

Last summer, after a housing tour through  Nunavut   to document the human costs on people caused by the housing crisis, I released the "Sick of waiting" report, not even read by Indigenous Affairs Minister Marc Miller, as he told me in person.

Before the last federal budget, Inuit organizations mandated to officially represent our interests made a request for $ 500 million as an emergency measure to address the housing crisis. Nunavut received $ 25 million.

Even small proposals with minimal expenses  are rejected out of hand by the Liberal Government.

I proposed an amendment to Bill C19 to use indigenous language on ballot papers to protect democracy thinking that for Liberals and Conservatives it would be a no-brainer. They shot it down.  Having to face these problems is already insurmountable but I have to hear the rhetoric of the Liberal members,, the Liberal ministers and the Prime Minister himself about "reconciliation" and "transformational changes"  while I do not see real changes.

 Every time I have made proposals for change I have been blocked by Liberals (and Conservatives) who smile at me and patronize my courage and then slam the door in my face.

Sometimes my work seems pointless to me when those in power keep repeating that I'm right but keep doing things wrong.

So I ask all my non-indigenous allies to put pressure on the Federal Government and the politicians that control it. Don't let them to get away with it any longer.

I no longer have faith in these institutions until changes take place.

I couldn't care less about the "thoughts and prayers" they repeat to us when a tragedy occurs. They sting when they mask the most "colonial lack of action. "

Mumilaaq makes a simple request never fulfilled: "Give us the basic

human rights you promised us."