Tara Tootoo Fotheringham (President, Amautiit)

Tara Q. Tootoo Fotheringham is an Inuk business leader, advocate, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing economic development and opportunity across Northern and Indigenous communities. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Arctic Buying Company Kivalliq Inc., an innovative logistics and e-commerce enterprise focused on improving access to affordable goods and strengthening supply chains between southern Canada and remote northern regions.

Through Tara’s vision of food security, Arctic Buying Company has also established Niriqatiginnga, a non-profit organization created to support community-led food systems. Niriqatiginnga works directly with local hunters, farmers, and women to promote the sharing of country food and produce, strengthening cultural practices while addressing food insecurity in both northern and urban Indigenous communities.

With a strong commitment to community empowerment, Tara also serves as President of Amautiit Inuit Women’s Association, where she champions initiatives that support Inuit women through advocacy, skills development, and healing-centered programming. Her leadership reflects a deep belief in creating safe, sustainable pathways for women to thrive socially and economically.

Tara is also the President of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, where she actively promotes regional economic growth, infrastructure development, and business capacity in Nunavut’s Kivalliq region. Her work often intersects with national policy conversations, including food security, transportation equity, and Indigenous-led economic solutions.

Recognized for her ability to bridge grassroots realities with strategic leadership, Tara has led and contributed to projects focused on Indigenous intellectual property, food security research, and workforce development. She is passionate about practical, skills-based training initiatives that create long-term employment pathways—particularly for Inuit and urban Indigenous populations.

In addition to her corporate and advocacy roles, Tara is the voice behind “Q’s Corner,” a podcast platform that brings forward honest, engaging conversations on business, leadership, and community issues affecting Northern and Indigenous peoples.

Tara’s leadership is grounded in resilience, accountability, and action. She is known for her direct approach, her commitment to transparency, and her unwavering focus on creating meaningful change for the communities she serves.

Lynn Mike (Vice President Amautiit)

Lynn Mike is the former Mayor of Pangnirtung, where she was devoted to advancing community development and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. With a deep commitment to continuous learning and innovation, she brings extensive experience and a passion for leadership to her work.

Lynn is currently working with the Government of Nunavut, continuing her contributions to public service and community development. Prior to her role as Mayor, she worked for several years with the Government of Nunavut’s Economic Development and Transportation (ED&T), where she developed expertise in community engagement, program development, and capacity building.

She also completed the College Foundations program, as well as studies in Environmental Technology and Nunavut Sivuniksavut, providing her with a strong foundation to address the unique challenges of the North. Lynn is also a proud graduate of Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit.

In addition, Lynn recently joined the Amautiit Board, where she continues to contribute to Pangnirtung’s growth and well-being in meaningful ways.

In her free time, Lynn enjoys sewing, baking, and spending quality moments with her large family, activities that offer her both relaxation and creative expression.

Priscilla Kuksuk

Priscilla Kuksuk, originally from Arviat, Nunavut, has lived in Ottawa, Ontario since 2016. Prior to her move, Kuksuk worked at the Government of Nunavut in the department of Economic Development (Iqaluit) and Education (Baker Lake). Upon moving to Ottawa,  Kuksuk noticed a lack of Inuktitut/Inuktut speaking Early Years Educators for her own young children, and has since completed Early Childhood Education at Algonquin College in 2021.  During the course of her studies, she also struggled to find financial assistance for research support. This experience resulted in her taking the role of Inuit Post Secondary Education Project Coordinator at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami in order to provide support to Inuit students with the same struggles.

Language and travel has always been a fascination with Kuksuk. She grew up speaking only Inuktitut/Inuktut, and takes pride in her fluency, her ability to read, write, and share with others. She is able to understand many dialects in Inuktitut/Inuktut, and is also learning German and Arabic through classes and her social circles. Gender equality and human rights are also an important issue with Kuksuk; she has a particular investment in understanding the needs of Inuit girls, women, and families, so that she might assist in finding solutions to the challenges they face within their communities. 

Kuksuk is a proud Inuk mother of three, and attributes her motivations and inspiration to her children.

Dorothy Tootoo (Elder Advisor, Amautiit)

Dorothy Tootoo is well known across Nunavut and beyond for her twelve years of dedicated service as a commanding officer for the 3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) in Rankin Inlet, as well as her years as a student counsellor for Nunavut Arctic College in Rankin Inlet. Tootoo is a vigilant advocate for education, helping students to achieve their goals and persist in the pursuit of education. For example, she notably initiated a mentoring program for students with the support of local elders. More recently, she has co-led a several week international entrepreneurship program in Rankin Inlet (2021); the program not only promoted creative and experimental learning, but also fostered cross-cultural networking and exchanging methods of education.

Megan Porter (Treasurer, Amautiit)

Megan Porter is the former Mayor of Hamlet of Gjoa Haven. Porter was elected in 2019, and will finish her term in 2023. Porter also works full time with the Government of Nunavut as the Government Liaison Officer. 

Jasmine Redfern (President, Amautiit)

Jasmine Redfern is based in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and graduated from the Nunavut Law Program in 2021 with the University of Saskatchewan. While in the program, she won awards for both academic performance and community involvement. Jasmine is passionate about advocacy, community-building, and social inclusion; she has training in interest-based mediation and is interested in alternative dispute resolution processes. She is a current member of the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal, National Indigenous Law Student Association, and the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund advisory committee. Prior to returning to school, Jasmine held the position of Assistant Director of Social and Cultural Development at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Her past work also included the Aboriginal Program Coordinator at YOUTHCO and Vice-President of Embrace Life Council. She was also a longstanding member of the National Indigenous Young Women’s Council and the National Aboriginal Council for HIV/AIDS. Her focus has often highlighted health issues for Indigenous women and youth, as well as LGBTQ2S communities.