Kiviaq facts for kids

Kiviaq (born David Charles Ward) was an important Inuk lawyer and politician from Canada. He was born on January 23, 1936, and passed away on April 24, 2016. Kiviaq grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. He made history as the first Inuk person to become a lawyer. He also worked hard to protect the legal rights of Inuit people.

Kiviaq's Amazing Life

Kiviaq started his political career in 1968. He was elected to the Edmonton City Council. Before this, he won the Vanier Award. This award recognized him as one of Canada's "Five Most Outstanding Young Men." He earned this for his work in public relations for the city.

A Voice for the People

Kiviaq served two terms on the city council. He was known as an alderman, which is like a city council member. He even ran for mayor in the 1970s, though he didn't win. Kiviaq was a very friendly politician. He successfully helped bring the Commonwealth Games to Edmonton. These are big sports events, like a mini-Olympics.

He also hosted his own radio show. On this show, he interviewed famous people like Muhammad Ali.

Becoming a Lawyer

After studying law, Kiviaq became the first Inuk lawyer. This was a huge step forward for his people. He was officially allowed to practice law in 1983. The Prime Minister at the time, Pierre Trudeau, even sent him a letter. Trudeau called it a "solid and progressive achievement."

Reclaiming His Name

In 2000, Mr. Ward asked to change his name back to Kiviaq. This was the single-word Inuktituk name his mother gave him at birth. In 2001, he won the right to use his birth name. In 2003, the city of Edmonton and its mayor declared March 14 "Kiviaq Day." This day celebrates his life and achievements.

Kiviaq's Sports Career

Growing up in Edmonton, Kiviaq learned to box. He used boxing to defend himself against unfair treatment from other kids. He won his first Golden Gloves championship when he was just 13 years old.

A Talented Boxer

Later, Kiviaq became a prizefighter. He won an amazing 108 out of 112 fights! He also won many provincial and Golden Glove championships.

Football Dreams

In 1955, at age 19, Kiviaq became the first Inuk to play for the Edmonton Eskimos football team. However, he never played a regular game. He had a bad accident on the field before the season started. Even though he was hurt, he got better. He later won a scholarship to play college football in Louisiana.

Health Challenges

Kiviaq had a condition called Ménière's disease. This made it hard for him to travel by plane or car without feeling sick. But in 2009, surgeries for cancer also helped him with his travel sickness. He bravely fought cancer for many years. He passed away on April 24, 2016, in Edmonton.

Documentary Film

Kiviaq's life story is told in a documentary film called Kiviaq vs. Canada. It was made by the award-winning producer Zacharias Kunuk.

See also

• Indigenous Canadian personalities