Mumilaaq Qaqqaq facts for kids

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq (Inuktitut: ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ; born on November 4, 1993) is a Canadian activist and former politician. From 2019 to 2021, she was the member of Parliament (MP) for the Nunavut area in Canada's House of Commons. The House of Commons is where leaders from across the country meet to make laws.

When she was elected, Qaqqaq was the first person from the New Democratic Party (NDP) to represent Nunavut since the territory was officially created in 1999. For her entire time in office, she was the only MP from Northern Canada who was not a member of the Liberal Party.

Early Life and Education

Qaqqaq was born in Baker Lake, which was then part of the Northwest Territories. She later moved to Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut. Her birth name was Trina Qaqqaq, but she chose to use the name Mumilaaq, a special name her father gave her. In the Inuktitut language, Mumilaaq means "dancing little one." Qaqqaq said she adopted the name to connect with and honor her Inuit culture.

In 2011, she moved to Ottawa to study business at Algonquin College. She was also a talented ice hockey player and competed in the 2012 Arctic Winter Games. In 2016, she earned a diploma in business from Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough, Ontario.

Speaking Up for Her Community

Before becoming a politician, Qaqqaq was a public speaker and volunteer. She became well-known for a powerful speech she gave in the House of Commons on International Women's Day in 2017.

The speech was for an event called Daughters of the Vote, which invites young women to share their ideas for Canada. In her speech, Qaqqaq spoke about the serious challenges facing young people in her community. Her words were so moving that the audience gave her two standing ovations.

She also worked for several important organizations, including Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut's health department. She also worked with the singer Susan Aglukark at the Arctic Rose Foundation.

Political Career

In 2019, the New Democratic Party (NDP) asked Qaqqaq to run in the Canadian federal election for Nunavut. She accepted and began her campaign in September 2019.

The election was notable because the main candidates from the three major parties were all Inuit women. Qaqqaq was 25 years old when she was elected, which was very close to the average age of people living in Nunavut. She focused her campaign on important issues like improving housing, making sure people had enough food, and supporting the well-being of people in Nunavut.

Work as a Member of Parliament

As an MP, Qaqqaq worked on issues important to Northern Canada. She became the NDP's critic for Northern Affairs. This meant her job was to review the government's plans for the North and suggest improvements. She paid close attention to the effects of climate change in the Arctic, such as how changing weather patterns affect animals and the safety of local hunters.

In October 2020, Qaqqaq announced she would take a temporary break from her duties for health reasons, following her doctor's advice. She returned in January 2021, explaining that she needed time to recover from feeling overworked and stressed. Before her break, she had toured Nunavut to see the difficult housing conditions many people faced.

Leaving Politics

In May 2021, Qaqqaq announced that she would not run for re-election. In a farewell speech, she spoke about the challenges she faced, including unfair treatment. She also shared her frustration that the government was not doing enough to solve the serious problems in her community.

On July 8, 2021, Qaqqaq and another MP, Charlie Angus, called on the government to investigate the terrible treatment of Indigenous children in Canada's historical residential school system. They asked for a special lawyer to be appointed to look into these cases.

Qaqqaq's time as an MP ended in September 2021. She was succeeded by Lori Idlout, who also represents the NDP.

Electoral results