Ottawa – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Minister of Health, and Minister Responsible for the Territories, co-hosted a reception on Parliament Hill with the Honourable Peter Milliken, Member of Parliament, and Speaker of the House of Commons, to celebrate ITK’s initiative to make 2010 The Year of the Inuit.
Ms. Mary Simon, National Inuit Leader and President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, was in attendance at the reception after kicking off ITK’s “2010: Year of the Inuit” initiative earlier in the day. In a news release earlier that day Ms. Simon said, “In the next year we will work to focus the attention of Canadians on Inuit culture, contributions and challenges,” adding “Inuit are prepared to do our part, whether at the Olympics, during the G7 conference in Iqaluit or at our own events, to educate, inform, advise and listen.”
“I am delighted with ITK’s efforts to promote Inuit issues across Canada,” Aglukkaq said. “We have unique circumstances in the North; ITK’s initiative to launch “2010 Year of the Inuit” should not only help Canadians understand issues that Inuit face but should also help to teach Canadians about issues that all Nunavummiut face,” Aglukkaq continued. “I continue to work hard for all Nunavummiut, and put our issues on the table, this is another step in the right direction,” Aglukkaq concluded.
ITK said in their release that they will officially launch the kickoff event for 2010 Year of the Inuit with a fundraiser on January 14th at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
If you have questions or concerns about this issue or any other matter, please contact Leona’s office at:
Phone: 613.992.2848/866.267.7701
Fax: 613.996.9764/867.979.4193
Email:
Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca 
