In a surprise move, Simeonie Nalukturuk has resigned as president of Makivik Corp. just 17 months after taking over the job from Charlie Watt.
Makivik spokesman Steven Hendrie said Nalukturuk resigned for “personal reasons.” In April, Nalukturuk went on Inuit radio to apologize for a drinking-and-driving accident he had been involved in. A newspaper reported that members of Makivik’s board of governors, an advisory body of Elders, remained unhappy with Nalukturuk’s conduct and led a movement to unseat him.
Makivik sources told us that Nalukturuk offered to resign voluntarily because he remained troubled by the drinking incident. After some deliberation, Makivik’s board of directors accepted the resignation and appointed Zebedee Nungak, first vice-president of Makivik, to take over as president.
Nungak’s appointment will be reviewed at Makivik’s next Annual General Meeting in the spring. If approved, he will serve in the job until the next election in a year and a half.
Nalukturuk narrowly defeated Charlie Watt, a Liberal Senator, in March 1994, running on a platform of accountability and openness.
