With Qikiqtani Inuit Association celebrating a milestone of 50 years in 2025, we profile some past and existing Board Members and Presidents on our website and social media pages.
We appreciate the people that have freely given their time and information as to how QIA began and how much it has grown from the early years.
Enjoy reading!
Pauloosie Keyootak – Qikiqtarjuaq
President, 12 years (Baffin Regional Inuit Association / QIA)
Pauloosie Keyootak is remembered as one of the longest-serving Presidents of the regional Inuit association, guiding the organization through its early years of growth and transformation. His leadership began in the late 1970s, when he first served as Vice President. When the sitting President resigned, Pauloosie was appointed to the role. After one year as an appointed President, he was formally elected by the Board. Altogether, he would go on to serve 12 years as President, beginning in 1978–79, during the formative years of the Baffin Regional Inuit Association (BRIA), which later became the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA).
From a young age, Pauloosie had admired Inuit leaders and dreamed of following their path. “I always liked serving others, even as a teenager,” he recalls. When he stepped into the presidency, he found himself at the center of historic change.
Democratizing QIA Leadership
One of his earliest initiatives was to amend the election bylaws. Under the original system, only Board members had the power to elect the Executive Committee. Pauloosie led the push to change this so that all Inuit beneficiaries in the Qikiqtani region could vote. When he was later elected directly by Inuit, he says it meant far more to him: “It made me feel closer to the people.” This shift strengthened Inuit voices and gave the organization broader legitimacy.
Building an Economic Future
At the time, QIA was a small organization with just a handful of staff. Pauloosie had a bold vision to expand its reach beyond advocacy into economic development. Recognizing that QIA was not a business body, he spearheaded the creation of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (QC) in 1982–83, with initial funding from the federal government.
QC began by focusing on Canada’s fisheries industry, negotiating with the federal government for a commercial fishing license. Using vessels owned by others, QC launched its first fishing operations. Although the first crews were not Inuit, the long-term goal was to train Inuit captains and crews. In partnership with government, training programs were created to prepare Inuit for these roles. From those beginnings, QC grew into a diversified economic development corporation with investments across many industries.
As Inuit began approaching QC for help starting their own businesses and finding work, Kakivak Association was established. Kakivak provided training, employment support, and small business assistance, creating opportunities for Inuit to thrive in the modern economy. Pauloosie’s vision of pairing economic development with Inuit capacity-building remains central to QIA’s mission today.
Social Support for Inuit Families
During his presidency, Pauloosie also recognized the social challenges Inuit faced as families became more dispersed across communities. With travel only possible by air and airline tickets expensive, many Inuit could not afford to travel to attend funerals of loved ones. Pauloosie initiated QIA’s grief and bereavement program, ensuring Inuit could receive support to be with family during times of loss. This program continues today, recently expanded to meet modern needs.
Shaping the Land Claims Agreement
Pauloosie’s leadership extended beyond QIA. As President, he represented BRIA on the Board of the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut (TFN), the organization that led land claims negotiations. He was directly involved from the very beginning through to the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA).
The negotiations were painstaking—143 pages of documents reviewed page by page, covering wildlife, land management, governance, and other critical areas. Pauloosie recalls how difficult it was: “It was not easy, with many challenges. But it was the biggest deal of the day.” The Board worked alongside lawyers and negotiators, carefully deciding which articles to support based on what would best serve Inuit.
When the NLCA was tabled in the House of Commons, Pauloosie was among the invited guests. He remembers Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s words: that the Government was aligned with Inuit and that Inuit were no longer below government. The Senate later passed the agreement, marking one of the most historic moments in Inuit political history and paving the way for the creation of Nunavut.
“It was a time of awakening,” Pauloosie reflects, as Inuit moved to reclaim control over their lives and governance.
Legacy and Vision for the Future
Under Pauloosie’s leadership, QIA grew from just 3 staff members to 23. The organization embraced new responsibilities and laid the foundation for what would become one of the strongest Inuit organizations in Canada.
He is proud of how far QIA has come, but he remains concerned about ongoing challenges—especially the rising cost of living in the North. “It is getting harder to sustain a healthy lifestyle,” he warns, urging Inuit organizations to continue addressing these pressures for the benefit of future generations.
Looking ahead, Pauloosie calls on Inuit youth to step forward and become the voice of modern times. At the same time, he insists that Inuit must hold fast to their culture and language: “Before Inuit lives were taken over, we had a well-established society with a strong language foundation. We must teach our children and grandchildren how strong Inuit language and culture are, because they are embedded in our identity.”
Pauloosie’s legacy is one of vision, resilience, and service—building QIA into both a political force and a foundation for Inuit prosperity. His work helped secure Inuit rights through the NLCA while ensuring that economic and social supports were created to sustain communities. He continues to inspire future generations of Inuit leaders to embrace both tradition and innovation as they carry QIA’s mission forward
