NTI President, Cathy Towtongie Needs to Face Consequences
- by: Napatsi Folger
- recipient: Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
President of NTI, Cathy Towtongie has failed Inuit, and her dedicated non-Inuit employees by using her title in a self-serving way to spread prejudice and intolerance. By stirring the pot of controversy over the raising of the rainbow flag in support of the Canadian Olympians at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Ms. Towtongie has violated the trust of Nunavummiut and should be removed as the President.
I am baffled by the suggestion that the "NTI President Clarifies Policies" news release is being used as a defense of Ms. Towtongie’s imprudent and prejudiced commentary of March 6, 2014. Looking at the statement that “[a]t NTI, we always promote an atmosphere of inclusivity, acceptance and tolerance,” it is clear that the public declarations Cathy Towtongie chose to make, as the President of NTI, were not intended to promote tolerance and acceptance. Further to the posted sections of the NTI Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy for Members here are some additional sections omitted from the new release:
II. Pursuit of Object
Successful pursuit of NTI’s object requires high standards of leadership. Those individuals who are entrusted by the Inuit of Nunavut with leadership roles in NTI must conduct themselves so as to justify and maintain the trust and confidence of Inuit.
III. Standards of Conduct
(h) conduct themselves, while carrying out work on behalf of NTI, in such a way as to reflect well on the reputation of NTI and the Inuit of Nunavut;
Hiding behind the literal meaning of her statements does not change the fact that the atmosphere created by the commentary was one of hostility towards the raising of the rainbow flag.
The inappropriateness of the comments is even more unacceptable because of her pointed declaration of her position as the President of NTI – inferring that her personal feelings on a contentious subject were in fact, the position of NTI, the primary representative of Inuit in Nunavut for the public realm.
Through callous, impulsive, and frankly nonsensical rhetoric, President Towtongie has managed to dishearten and alienate the very people she has been entrusted to represent. Both Inuit and non-Inuit who have long served the causes of Nunavut – within and outside of this organization – have been slighted by this misconduct. In addition to misrepresenting Inuit, Ms. Towtongie has violated section 4.1.1 of the NTI Human Resources Manual which states that it is the duty of ALL NTI employees to “discourage behavior that has a negative influence or impact on employees.”
It is with these disturbing events in mind that I would like to circulate this petition for the resignation/termination of Cathy Towtongie as President of NTI. So, if you are a Beneficiary of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, please support this petition if you agree that she is not fit to represent us.
Sincerely,
Napatsi Folger
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