Rosemarie Kuptana facts for kids

Rosemarie Esther Kuptana, sometimes known as Rose Marie Kuptana, was born on March 24, 1954. She was born near Sachs Harbour in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Rosemarie is an Inuvialuk woman from Canada. She is a well-known politician, a champion for Inuit rights, a broadcaster, and a journalist.

She has worked with many Inuit groups. She also served as the president of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation. Today, Rosemarie lives near Ottawa and has three children.

Growing Up in the Arctic

Rosemarie Kuptana was born in 1954 in an igloo. Her parents, William and Sarah Kuptana, were hunting seals at the time. This happened on the Prince of Wales Strait. Her family lived a traditional life, moving from place to place.

In 1958, her family settled down in Sachs Harbour. This community is on Banks Island. Her father moved there to help build a weather station.

School Days and Language

When Rosemarie was young, she only spoke Inuvialuktun. This was her family's language. At age seven or eight, she was taken to a residential school in Inuvik. This school was about 525 kilometers away.

At the school, she was not allowed to speak her own language. She was forced to learn a different culture. After 10 years in the school system, she found it hard to speak Inuvialuktun. This made it difficult to talk with elders in her home community. Later, she worked hard to learn her language again.

Working in Media

In 1979, Rosemarie joined CBC Northern Service. She became a radio broadcaster. She reported on important topics for the Inuvialuit people. Her broadcasts were in Inuvialuktun. People across the Western Arctic could hear them.

Leading the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation

Later, she started working at the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation. She began as a production coordinator. In 1983, she became the president of the corporation. She held this role until 1988.

As president, Rosemarie made sure programs were shown in Inuktitut. This is another Inuit language. She also helped create training programs and standards for broadcasting. She was involved in starting Television Northern Canada. This network later became the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

Fighting for Inuit Rights

Rosemarie Kuptana has been involved in fighting for Inuit rights since 1975. She also worked on land claims. These are claims by Indigenous peoples for their traditional lands.

In 1986, she became the Canadian vice chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference. This group is now called the Inuit Circumpolar Council. She stayed in this position until 1989.

Important Negotiations

In 1991, she became the chair of Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. This organization is now known as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. During discussions about Canada's Constitution, she worked on the Charlottetown Accord. She tried to make sure the inherent rights of Inuit were included in the Constitution. She came very close to succeeding.

In 1995, Rosemarie became President of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference. She also co-chaired a Canadian panel for the Arctic. This work helped create the Arctic Council. The Arctic Council is a group that works on issues in the Arctic region.

She has also worked with other important groups. These include the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Migratory Bird Treaty. Rosemarie also helped Inuit people get compensation for their experiences in residential schools. She has written articles about Arctic Sovereignty and Security. This is about who controls the Arctic and keeping it safe.

Awards and Recognition

Rosemarie Kuptana has received many awards for her important work. In 1988, she became a Member of the Order of Canada. This is a high honor in Canada. Ten years later, in 1998, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

She has also received the Governor General's Confederation Medal. In 1994, she was given a National Aboriginal Achievement Award. This award is now called the Indspire Awards. In 2002, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. In 2012, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. She has also received special honorary doctorates from Trent and York Universities.

See also

• The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation