Remembrance for Ms. Meeka Kilabuk

(Iqaluit, NU) ‐ Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is saddened by the loss of a leader and extends its condolences to the family of Meeka Kilabuk. Ms. Kilabuk passed away in Ottawa on November 7, 2015.

Ms. Kilabuk was one of the few Inuit females who were part of the efforts of the creation of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement through the negotiation process to the implementation phase. Beyond that, Ms. Kilabuk’s work in the fur fashion industry has helped put Nunavut on the international stage. Ms. Kilabuk was involved in the following:

 The first Secretary Treasurer for Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami in 1971
 Secretary Treasurer for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, when it was still referred to as the Baffin Regional Inuit Association (BRIA) the nineties
 Member of the Nunavut Implementation Commission 1993‐1999
 President of Qikiqtani Inuit Association in 2000
 Recipient of the first place forthe NAFFEM Student Design Award in 2008
 Recipient of the second place for the NAFFEM Student Design Award in 2009
 Fur Design and Production graduate, Nunavut Arctic College 2010
 Meeka was the first Inuk woman to place as one of the eight finalists from 300 worldwide entries in the International Fur Trade Federation’s REMIX competition for emerging designers.

Meeka Kilabuk was originally from Pangnirtung and leaves behind a large family. Meeka’s daughter, Ms. Becky Kilabuk, two‐time recipient of the Jubilee medal from Queen Elizabeth II is an employee of QIA.

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Media Contact:
Malaya Qaunirq Chapman
Media Advisor
mqchapman@qia.ca
1.800.667.2742
1.867.975.8400

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