Willie Adams, Nunavut’s first Inuk senator, says his appointment to the Order of Canada is an indication that the federal government is “coming around” to the idea of Inuit language and cultural sovereignty.
Adams’ greatest legacy has perhaps been his devotion to preserving and highlighting the use of Inuktitut, even advocating for the Inuit language after his initial Senate appointment in 1977 by then-prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Adams tells of being informally invited to meet the prime minister, who was the head of what was then the Department of Indian Affairs, in the PM’s hotel room during a brief visit to Adams’ longtime home community of Rankin Inlet.
“He called me at home and asked me to come to his hotel room to ‘discuss some things,’” recalls Adams, who will turn 90 in June.
Among the various topics relating to Inuit issues, Trudeau casually mentioned to Adams that he was “looking for Inuit with political background to help with representation [in Ottawa].” At the time, Adams was a working electrician and local politician — an MLA and chairman for the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet.
“I said, ‘I have an electrical business. It’s going to be complicated if I go to the Senate,” Adams recalls as his response to the PM’s request.
However, Adams ultimately accepted the offer. He arrived in the Senate at a time when Inuktitut was not spoken or a recognized language in Parliament. All that changed under his direction.
“If we wanted a translation, we would have to wait two weeks!,” he recalled. “The leader of the opposition couldn’t understand what we were talking about. Dennis Patterson [Adams’ successor] had to translate.”
The Nunavut senator persisted and succeeded in having Inuktitut accepted as an official language in Parliament.
“It’s the right thing to do. And NTI (Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated) is helping push forward the [continued use and development of Inuktitut]. [Inuit] are talking in their own language in the Chamber now [in the legislative assembly].”
Firearms concerns
Adams was also greatly concerned about proposed firearms legislation before he retired from the Senate in 2009.
“It’s typical that [southerners] don’t like Inuit using guns,” he said.
He also points to the continued abuse of alcohol and drugs as a concern for both Inuit and policy-makers when it came to firearms legislation.
“People with families were being shot,” Adams said of the concerns that went into the formation of what is today’s national law on firearms. “We couldn’t vote against [the restrictive firearm legislation in 1995]. It’s kind of difficult [now]. I don’t know how much can be changed.”
According to Dennis Patterson, “The Firearms Act of 1995 was very controversial because it required everyone to register to purchase a firearm or ammunition, and also strictly prohibited the giving or sharing of firearms. The act was seen to be prejudicial to Indigenous hunters because it required a licence to purchase a rifle or ammunition… it was passed after the L’Ecole Polytechnique massacre.
“This was seen as a threat to Inuit hunters, who until then never required a licence to purchase a firearm or ammunition, and it was seen as interfering with their subsistence right to hunt as protected by Section 35 of the Constitution of Canada… The [firearms] bill established a very controversial gun registry, which was very costly and seen to be an invasion of privacy. It ended up being abolished under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.”
In terms of developing the territory for opportunities that come with mining, Adams is personally affected by having three of his grandchildren benefitting from regular employment through mining operations in Rankin Inlet.
“It’s helping lots, opening up Rankin and some of the municipalities,” he said. “Rankin is booming and people want to move there. It provides employment and good jobs… but we haven’t been allowed autonomy yet. In the meantime, mining companies want 60 per cent [share of the profits]. The Inuit should have control of this money. We need regulations to pass to help the Inuit. They’re the ones living on the land for 1,000 years. We have to use everything on our land that we’ve never used before.”
Adams said it is with humility that he accepts the Order of Canada — his appointment was announced in December — and he dedicates the honour to his fellow Inuit.