The Honourable

Ann Meekitjuk Hanson

Commissioner of Nunavut

 

The 3rd Commissioner of Nunavut, Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, was
appointed on April 21, 2005.

 

Ann Meekitjuk Hanson was born May 22, 1946 on the island of Qakutut,

outside Kimmirut, Nunavut.

She spent the first 11 years of her life speaking only Inuktitut and living in Qakutut and Kimmirut. She attended schools in Iqaluit, Qamanituaq and Toronto. She studied community development at St. Xavier University and received a diploma with honours in journalism from Nunavut Arctic College.

Mrs. Hanson's career has been diverse. She has been a civil servant, broadcaster, journalist and author. She has used her skills in Inuktitut throughout her career. Joining the federal government in 1964, she served as a secretary and interpreter/translator in the office of Nunatsiaq Member of Parliament Gene Rheaume.

She joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a receptionist, later becoming an announcer and producer in Inuktitut broadcasting. Mrs. Hanson was the first editor of the Iqaluit community newspaper Inukshuk, which later became Nunatsiaq News. She is the author of "Show Me," a book written in Inuktitut and English.

In addition to her work in journalism, Mrs. Hanson also served with the Government of the Northwest Territories as a community development worker, counsellor and Deputy Commissioner.

Mrs. Hanson has spent considerable time as a volunteer, helping to start a number of organizations in Iqaluit. These organizations include the Juvenile Court Committee, the Elders Group, the Inuit Cultural Group and the Quinuajuaq Society.

Mrs. Hanson lives in Iqaluit with her husband, Robert Hanson. They have five grown daughters.