Abe Okpik
Encyclopedia
Abe "Abraham" Okpik, CM
(12 January 1929 - 10 July 1997) was an Inuit
community leader in Canada
. He instrumental in helping Inuit obtain surnames
rather than disc numbers. He was also the first Inuk to sit on what is now the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories and worked with Thomas Berger
.
" in Inuvialuktun
), an Inuvialuit
, was born in the Mackenzie Delta
area of the Northwest Territories
, near Aklavik
at a summer fishing camp. As a youth he, like many other aboriginal
people, contracted tuberculosis
and was sent to the Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton
. Although he was permanently injured by his dog sled
he was still able to hunt and trap.
(DIAND) as an administrator.
In 1965 Okpik was appointed to the Northwest Territories Council (5th Northwest Territories Legislative Council
),At that time most of the council were from Ottawa
. Okpik's role on the council was to serve as a representative for the Inuit population resident in the eastern arctic. He was not re-appointed to council after Simonie Michael was elected to the council in the 1967 general election
. The government of Canada felt that Micheal would serve Okpik's intended role and gave his seat to Chief John Tetlichi the first status indian to serve on council.
had used "disc numbers" to identify Inuit due to the lack of need in historical times for surnames. In the mid 60s the Northwest Territories Council undertook to replace the disc numbers with last names under "Project Surname". Okpik, whose disc number was "W3-554", was picked to head the project. From 1968 until 1971 he visited every community, as well as many traditional campsites, in the Northwest Territories
, what is now Nunavut
and Nunavik
in northern Quebec
. At each place Okpik would record the names, sometimes first as well, that people wanted and would sometimes have to explain the necessity for the names.
to head the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry
. The inquiry lasted longer and travelled further than was expected, through 35 northern communities, and Okpik accompanied Berger as both an interpreter and broadcaster.
and in Spence Bay
, now Taloyoak.
Okpik spent the rest of his life in Iqaluit and was an elected member of the town council on several occasions. He also served on several volunteer organisations and committees. Okpik died in Iqaluit 10 July 1997 after an illness and his funeral service was held in St. Jude's Cathedral
15 July.
The "Abe Okpik Hall" in Apex is named for him. The former mayor of Iqaluit, Jimmy Kilabuk, had a mural painted on the side of his home in 1998 that included Okpik.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(12 January 1929 - 10 July 1997) was an 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...
community leader in Canada
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...
. He instrumental in helping Inuit obtain surnames
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
rather than disc numbers. He was also the first Inuk to sit on what is now the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories and worked with Thomas Berger
Thomas Berger (Canadian politician)
Thomas Rodney Berger, OC, OBC is a Canadian politician and jurist of Swedish descent. Berger was the leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party for most of 1969, prior to Dave Barrett.-Background:...
.
Early life
Okpik (the name means "Snowy OwlSnowy Owl
The Snowy Owl is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. The bird is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl, Great...
" in Inuvialuktun
Inuvialuktun
Inuvialuktun, or Western Canadian Inuit language, Western Canadian Inuktitut, Western Canadian Inuktun comprises three Inuit dialects spoken in the northern Northwest Territories by those Canadian Inuit who call themselves Inuvialuk .Inuvialuktun is spoken by the Inuit of the Mackenzie River delta...
), an Inuvialuit
Inuvialuit
The Inuvialuit or Western Canadian Inuit are Inuit people who live in the western Canadian Arctic region. They, like all other Inuit, are descendants of the Thule who migrated eastward from Alaska...
, was born in the Mackenzie Delta
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
area of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, near Aklavik
Aklavik, Northwest Territories
Aklavik is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Until 1961, the community served as the regional administrative centre for the territorial government...
at a summer fishing camp. As a youth he, like many other aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
people, contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and was sent to the Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
. Although he was permanently injured by his dog sled
Dog sled
A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:...
he was still able to hunt and trap.
1960s
By the 1960s, Okpik was living in what was then called Frobisher Bay, now Iqaluit. He was working at Apex, the subdivision where most Inuit lived in the town's early days, at the rehabilitation centre. He was later to work for Department of Indian Affairs and Northern DevelopmentIndian and Northern Affairs Canada
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies relating to Aboriginal peoples...
(DIAND) as an administrator.
In 1965 Okpik was appointed to the Northwest Territories Council (5th Northwest Territories Legislative Council
5th Northwest Territories Legislative Council
The 5th Northwest Territories Legislative Council was the 12th assembly of the territorial government. This council's members were elected and appointed in the 1964 general election and served until it was dissolved for the 1967 general election-Leadership:...
),At that time most of the council were from Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. Okpik's role on the council was to serve as a representative for the Inuit population resident in the eastern arctic. He was not re-appointed to council after Simonie Michael was elected to the council in the 1967 general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1967
The Northwest Territories general election of 1967 took place on July 4, 1967. This was the 11th general election in the history of the Northwest Territories....
. The government of Canada felt that Micheal would serve Okpik's intended role and gave his seat to Chief John Tetlichi the first status indian to serve on council.
Project Surname
Since the 1940s the Government of CanadaGovernment of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
had used "disc numbers" to identify Inuit due to the lack of need in historical times for surnames. In the mid 60s the Northwest Territories Council undertook to replace the disc numbers with last names under "Project Surname". Okpik, whose disc number was "W3-554", was picked to head the project. From 1968 until 1971 he visited every community, as well as many traditional campsites, in the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, what is now Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
and Nunavik
Nunavik
Nunavik comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, Canada. Covering a land area of 443,684.71 km² north of the 55th parallel, it is the homeland of the Inuit of Quebec...
in northern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. At each place Okpik would record the names, sometimes first as well, that people wanted and would sometimes have to explain the necessity for the names.
The Berger Commission
In 1974 the Government of Canada commissioned Thomas BergerThomas Berger (Canadian politician)
Thomas Rodney Berger, OC, OBC is a Canadian politician and jurist of Swedish descent. Berger was the leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party for most of 1969, prior to Dave Barrett.-Background:...
to head the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry
Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry
The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry was commissioned by the Government of Canada on March 21, 1974 to investigate the social, environmental, and economic impact of a proposed gas pipeline that would run through the Yukon and the Mackenzie River Valley of the Northwest Territories...
. The inquiry lasted longer and travelled further than was expected, through 35 northern communities, and Okpik accompanied Berger as both an interpreter and broadcaster.
Order of Canada
In recognition of Okpik's work with the "Berger Commission", on the NWT Council and for "Project Surname" he was made a "Member of the Order of Canada". The appointment was made 15 December 1976 with the investiture 20 April 1977.Later life and death
In 1979 he returned to Iqaluit but had spent time on Banks IslandBanks Island
One of the larger members of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Banks Island is situated in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is separated from Victoria Island to its east by the Prince of Wales Strait and from the mainland by Amundsen Gulf to its south. The Beaufort Sea lies...
and in Spence Bay
Taloyoak, Nunavut
Taloyoak or Talurjuaq is located on the Boothia Peninsula, Kitikmeot, in Canada's Nunavut Territory. The community is served only by air and by annual supply sealift. Taloyoak may mean "large blind", referring to a stone caribou blind or a screen used for caribou hunting...
, now Taloyoak.
Okpik spent the rest of his life in Iqaluit and was an elected member of the town council on several occasions. He also served on several volunteer organisations and committees. Okpik died in Iqaluit 10 July 1997 after an illness and his funeral service was held in St. Jude's Cathedral
St. Jude's Cathedral (Iqaluit)
St. Jude's Cathedral may refer to:Canada*St. Jude's Cathedral United States*Cathedral of Saint Jude the Apostle...
15 July.
The "Abe Okpik Hall" in Apex is named for him. The former mayor of Iqaluit, Jimmy Kilabuk, had a mural painted on the side of his home in 1998 that included Okpik.
External links
- Elders' stories - Abe Okpik
- http://www.nald.ca/library/learning/unipkausivut/page25.htmWhat Does It Mean to Be an EskimoEskimoEskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia , across Alaska , Canada, and Greenland....
? by Abe Okpik] - http://www.nunavut.com/nunavut99/english/name.html"WHAT'S IN A NAME?" by Ann Meekitjuk HansonAnn Meekitjuk HansonAnn Meekitjuk Hanson was the Commissioner of Nunavut. She served from April 21, 2005 until April 10, 2010...
Commissioner of Nunavut, in which she remembers Abe Okpik]