Member of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2018-11-19
Invested on: 2019-05-08
Eva Aariak, C.M.
Iqaluit, Nunavut
Eva Aariak has dedicated her life to promoting Inuit culture and languages. She was Nunavut’s inaugural language commissioner and made recommendations to the Nunavut Legislative Assembly that resulted in a groundbreaking law, the Inuktitut Protection Act. As the second territorial premier in Nunavut’s history—and the first woman to serve in the role—she has worked tirelessly on Nunavut’s poverty reduction strategy, among other notable projects. A renowned leader in northern Canada, she has successfully advocated for equity, gender equality and the involvement of women in politics.