Paul Okalik, Nunavut’s first premier, joins WWF-Canada

WWF
IQALUIT, April 5, 2018 – World Wildlife Fund Canada is pleased to announce Paul Okalik, Nunavut’s first premier, has joined its Arctic team in a senior advisory role to work with communities to protect Arctic ecosystems and wildlife while building a sustainable northern economy.  
 
Megan Leslie, president and CEO, WWF-Canada said: 
“WWF has a long history of working with communities in the Canadian Arctic and a deep appreciation for the invaluable local work people do as stewards of their environment. Their work identifying sensitive wilderness areas, sharing traditional knowledge and advocating for protections drives conservation successes such as Tallurutiup Imanga, the proposed national marine conservation area in Lancaster Sound, and is behind the growing movement to create an Inuit-managed protected area for the North Water polynya known as Pikialasorsuaq, the largest open water area in the Arctic. Paul Okalik’s long history as a representative for his community and territory make him an ideal advisor as we bring northern perspectives and experiences more deeply into our conservation work.”
 
Paul Okalik, senior advisor Arctic conservation, WWF-Canada said:
“There are a number of conservation challenges that our young territory faces as the climate changes and more industrial activity takes place. But there are also great opportunities to create an economy that is truly sustainable. The North is a place where we can still get it right so that communities can continue to thrive and survive with wildlife here in our territory. WWF stands out as an organization that finds a way to collaborate with communities to find sound conservation solutions.”
 
About Paul Okalik
  • First premier of Nunavut 1999 – 2008.
  • Member of Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly 1999 – 2011 and 2013 – 2017.
  • First Inuk to be called to the Nunavut bar.
  • Contributed to the creation of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, which conserves wildlife and habitats while respecting Inuit rights and priorities.
  • As premier, championed and invested in recycling in the territory, and more recently as MLA, advocated for banning plastic bags. 
  • Advocated for protecting barren-ground caribou calving grounds under Nunavut’s Land Use Plan.
About World Wildlife Fund Canada
WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca.
 
For further information
Rebecca Spring, senior communications specialist, [email protected], +1 647-338-6274