Edna Elias

Language: Inuktun (Inuvialuktun and Inuktitut)

Edna Elias was called by her grandmother, “Haattuliarmiutaq”, meaning “a person from thin ice” having been born on a fishing lake in the fall. A teacher by profession, Edna is an Inuit language and cultural advocate. After 5 years as Commissioner of Nunavut, Edna had returned to her home community of Qurluqtuq, Nunavut, the most westerly community in Nunavut. Since her return home, she had opened her home to women to learn traditional sewing and fur preparation skills. Edna owned a business promoting the preservation and retention of Inuinnaqtun through language courses, providing educational and cultural orientation and advice, program and event planning, the production of Inuinnaqtun reading material and to support the language programming in the schools. Edna continues to share her Inuit culture, language and knowledge in community projects. Melding contemporary materials and skills, her creations include clothing, jewelry, bags and ornaments.

Ms. Elias is a member of the Inuit community of Edmonton and is involved as an Inuit Elder with the National Gathering of Elders Kanata and the National Indigenous Cultural Expo. She was recently involved in the Ward Naming Initiative of the City of Edmonton and is a member of the Edmonton Indigenous Framework Women’s Circle.

Ms. Elias is a recipient of the Order of Canada, November 2019.

Edna Ekhivalak Elias taijauvakhimjuq anaanattiaminit, “Haatuliarmiutarmik”, “inuugamaguuq haatillugu hiku”, inuuhimagama hikuhaaqtillugu tahiq ukiakhami. IIlihaqpakhimajuq ilihaijiunirmik. Ekhivalak Inuit uqauhiannik ilitquhianiglu aghuruuqtuq. Talimani ukiiuni Kamisinaulgaqhuni Nunavunmi, Ekhivalak utiqpaktuq nunaminut

Qurluqtumut, Nunavunmi, ualiniutqiaq inuit nunangat Nunavunmi. Ekhivalak pingahunik hivunirhuivakhimajuq Arnait Huliluqaqtut-Pihuktut Niriungnirmut maniliurutigivlugu iviangnirmi kaansamik qaujihaijjutikhanik. Manngit katitaujut turaqtitauvlutik Cross Cancer

Institute-mut Inmintinmi. Talvani amigaitpiaqtut Ukiuqtaqturmiut kaansamingnut aanniarviliqivangmata. Utirnirminit aimavingminut nunaminut, angmaqhimajaa aimavini arnanut mirhurninik iliharumajunut amiliqinirmiglu. Ajauqtiuqatauvakhunilu ilihaijinut pitquhinik ilihainirmik. Inmi malruglu ilihaiviuvakhimajuk nanminiqutikhamingnik

angmaqhihimajut akhuruutigivlugu tammaqtailinia puiguqtauttailinialu Inuinnaqtun, uqauhirmingnik ilihaivlutik, huliluqarutikhaliuqhutiglu, Inuinnaqtullu taiguakhaliurivlutik, ajaugivlutiglu pitquhinik ilitpaallirutikhanik, ikayuqtuivlutiglu Inuinnaqtun ilihaujjiujunik iliharvingni. Aaniarunnikkami nuuttuq Inmintinmut, Alberta-mi munaqtauttiarumavluni

taaktinit, qimakhugit tamaita piqpagiyani huliluqaarutinilu.

Edna Ekhivalak Elias ilaujuq inuuqatigiiktunut Inuinnanut Inmintinmi ilauvakhunilu Inutuqanut taffumani National Gathering of Elders-kunni, ilaulihaaglu tapkunani Niruaktauvini Atiqtuijuni Inmintinmi.

Edna Ekhivalak Elias ilitarimajaulihaaqhimajuq Order of Canada-mik, November 2019-ngutillugu.