Edna Elias

Edna Elias
4th Commissioner of Nunavut
In office
12 May 2010 – 11 May 2015
Prime MinisterStephen Harper
PremierEva Aariak
Peter Taptuna
Preceded byNellie Kusugak (acting)
Succeeded byNellie Kusugak[1]
Personal details
Born1954 or 1955 (age 69–70)[2]
Kugluktuk, Nunavut
NationalityCanadian
RelationsChristian Klengenberg (great grandfather)

Edna Agnes Ekhivalak Elias CM ONu (born c. 1955) is a Canadian politician from Kugluktuk, Nunavut. On 12 May 2010 she was appointed as the fourth commissioner of Nunavut by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.[3][4] Her term ended on 11 May 2015.[5]

Elias, who was in 2009 appointed to Inuit Uqausinnginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit (the Inuit Language Authority), has also served as the mayor of Kugluktuk and principal of Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik (primary school), as well as teaching in Arctic Bay and working as an executive assistant for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated in Cambridge Bay.[3][6][7] Prior to division of the Northwest Territories in 1999 she was the head of the Department of Culture and Employment's language bureau.[3] Elias, who is fluent in Inuinnaqtun, has stated that her goal as commissioner will be to promote education and the Inuit languages.[8]

In December 2011, it was announced that Elias, along with Elisabeth Hadlari, Donna Olsen-Hakongak, Crystal Qaumariaq, Jeannie Ehaloak, all of Cambridge Bay, and Jamie McInnis of Calgary would try to raise $70,000 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation to help support breast cancer research and the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. To raise the money the six women planned to walk across the Coronation Gulf from Umingmaktok to Cambridge Bay, approximately 250 km (160 mi), in May 2012. The group hoped to walk between 40–48 km (25–30 mi) a day and taking 5 to 6 days to reach Cambridge Bay in time for the Frolics which are held over the Victoria Day weekend.[9][10] Average temperatures in Cambridge Bay during May are −9.3 °C (15.3 °F).[11]

Elias was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2019.[12] She was made a Member of the Order of Nunavut in 2010 by virtue of her office as Commissioner of Nunavut.

Elias is the great-granddaughter of Danish whaler, trapper, and trader, Christian Klengenberg.

  1. ^ "PM announces Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak as Commissioner of Nunavut". Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. 23 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015.
  2. ^ Yogaretnam, Shaamini (5 July 2012). "Women trekked across sea ice for breast cancer". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Elias named Nunavut commissioner". CBC News North. 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 14 May 2010.
  4. ^ Nellie Kusugak was appointed acting commissioner after Ann Meekitjuk Hanson's term finished
  5. ^ "Committee appointed to find the next Nunavut commissioner". Nunatsiaq News. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Backgrounder: Edna Elias". Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Language advocate is new commissioner of Nunavut". Nunatsiaq News. 12 May 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "Inuit languages, education are priorities: Elias". CBC News North. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 September 2010.
  9. ^ "Walking to beat cancer". Archived from the original on 12 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Nunavut women to walk 250km for cancer research". CBC News North. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010". Environment Canada. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Governor General Announces 83 New Appointments to the Order of Canada". Office of the Governor General of Canada. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2020.