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About the Assembly

The Honourable Louis Tapardjuk was re-elected to the third Nunavut Legislature on October 27, 2008 and was the only member to be re-elected to the territorial cabinet.   On January 29, 2009, Louis was re-appointed as Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, and became the Minister of Education, Minister of Languages and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, as well as Government House Leader.

Louis was first elected to the second Nunavut Legislature on February 16^th, 2004.  During his first term as Minister he held the portfolios of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Human Resources and Finance.

Louis was born on January 30, 1953 in an igloo on the sea ice off Aggu Bay to the northwest of the Hamlet of Igloolik. While he was a small child, his family moved to Igloolik, which has become his life-long home.  In 1959, Louis was sent to the Chesterfield Inlet Residential School, where he finished his elementary schooling.

Louis started his public service with the Igloolik Co-operative at the age of 12 as a stock boy, and worked his way up to store manager. He was elected to the Igloolik Co-operative Board of Directors and later became President of the Arctic Co-operatives Limited.  Louis is also a former Councillor and Mayor of Igloolik.

Louis was very active with the Nunavut Land Claims process as both a negotiator and board member for the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut (now Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated), while he was President of the Baffin Region Inuit Association (now the Qikiqtani Inuit Association).

Louis has been very outspoken on Inuit culture and language and is acknowledged by his contemporaries as the spokesperson on issues relating to Inuit and Inuit Societal Values in Nunavut.

Louis currently resides in Igloolik with his wife Lucie and their three young children. They also have two grown sons who are now raising families in Igloolik as well.