NATIVE LEADERS OF CANADA


Rosemarie Kuptana, 1954-
She is a former president of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. She became involved in Inuit organizations around 1975 in discussions between Inuit and the Government of Canada regarding Inuit land rights. In 1979, she joined the Northern Service Branch of the CBC, and subsequently joined the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation as a Production Co-ordinator and as President from 1983-1988. From 1986 to 1989, she was the Canadian Vice-president for the Inuit Circumpolar Conference. From 1991 to 1996, She served as President of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada where she led negotiations seeking recognition of the inherent right of self-government of indigenous peoples. In 1995-1996, Kuptana was President of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference and helped establish the Arctic Council. Kuptana has received many awards for her service in the protection of Inuit culture and Inuit rights: the Order of Canada, the Governor General’s Confederation Medal, the 1994 National Aboriginal Achievement Award and honourary doctorates from Trent and York Universities. A longer biography appears in Native Leaders of Canada.


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