Abe Okpik

Abraham "Abe" Okpik, CM (12 January 1928 – 10 July 1997 ) was an Inuk community leader in Canada. He was instrumental in helping Inuit obtain surnames rather than disc numbers as a form of government identification. He was also the first Inuk to sit on what is now the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

1960s By the 1960s, Okpik was living in what was then called Frobisher Bay, now Iqaluit. He was working at Apex, the subdivision where most Inuit lived in the town's early days, at the rehabilitation centre. He was later to work for Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) as an administrator.

In 1965 Okpik was appointed to the Northwest Territories Council (5th Northwest Territories Legislative Council). At that time most of the council were from Ottawa. Okpik's role on the council was to serve as a representative for the Inuit population resident in the eastern arctic. He was not re-appointed to council after Simonie Michael was elected to the council in 1966. The government of Canada felt that Michael would serve Okpik's intended role and gave his seat to Chief John Tetlichi, the first status Indian to serve on council.

Project Surname

Beginning the 1940s, the Government of Canada used disc numbers, similar to dog tags, to identify people. Okpik, whose disc number was "W3-554", was picked to head the project.

From 1968 until 1971, Okpik visited every community, as well as many traditional campsites, in the Northwest Territories and what is now Nunavut and Nunavik in northern Quebec. In total he visited 55 settlements, travelling by plane, snowmobile, boat and snowshoe. At the end of the project Okpik returned home to his wife and three children in Frobisher Bay where he worked as a teacher at Frobisher Bay School. and Okpik accompanied Berger as both an interpreter and broadcaster.

Order of Canada In recognition of Okpik's work with the "Berger Commission", on the NWT Council and for "Project Surname" he was made a "Member of the Order of Canada". The appointment was made 15 December 1976 with the investiture 20 April 1977.

Later life and death In 1979, he returned to Iqaluit but had spent time on Banks Island and in Spence Bay, now Taloyoak.

Okpik spent the rest of his life in Iqaluit and was an elected member of the town council on several occasions. He also served on several volunteer organisations and committees. Okpik died in Iqaluit 10 July 1997 after an illness and his funeral service was held in St. Jude's Cathedral 15 July.

The "Abe Okpik Hall" in Apex is named for him. The former mayor of Iqaluit, Jimmy Kilabuk, had a mural painted on the side of his home in 1998 that included Okpik.

Electoral record