Ipeelee Kilabuk facts for kids

Ipeelee Kilabuk (born 1932, died 2000) was an important politician from Pangnirtung, a community in what is now Nunavut, Canada. He helped make decisions for the people living in the Northwest Territories for many years.

Ipeelee Kilabuk: A Northern Leader

Ipeelee Kilabuk was a respected leader from the Canadian Arctic. He worked as a politician at the "territorial level." This means he was elected to represent his community in the government of the Northwest Territories. This territory is a large area in northern Canada.

Starting His Political Journey

Kilabuk first became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1975. He was elected during the 1975 Northwest Territories general election. An MLA is like a representative who speaks for the people in their area. They help make laws and decide how the government should work.

What is a Legislature?

The Legislature is a group of elected people who make laws for a territory or province. It's similar to a parliament or congress. Members discuss important issues and vote on new rules that affect everyone living there. Kilabuk was part of this important group.

His Many Elections

Ipeelee Kilabuk ran in several elections during his career. In 1979, he tried to be re-elected but lost to James Arreak. However, Arreak's time in office was short. Kilabuk then won a special election, called a by-election, in September 1980. This meant he returned to the Legislature for a second time.

He ran again in 1983 but was defeated by Pauloosie Paniloo. Kilabuk and Paniloo faced each other again in the 1987 election. This time, Kilabuk won and started his third term as an MLA. A "term" is the period of time a politician serves after being elected.

Winning and Losing

In politics, winning and losing elections is part of the process. Kilabuk experienced both. After his third term, he ran in the 1991 election but was defeated once more. Even with these ups and downs, he continued to serve his community.

A Lasting Impact

Ipepelee Kilabuk passed away in March 2000. He is remembered as a dedicated politician who worked hard for the people of the Northwest Territories and his home community of Pangnirtung. His work helped shape the future of the region.