2 Inuit broadcasters honoured by CRTC for Canada 150

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is honouring two Inuit broadcasters, among 21 other Canadians, as a part of its Canada 150 celebrations.

As of this week, one of the meeting rooms at the CRTC Ottawa headquarters will be renamed after the late Jonah Kelly and Jose Kusugak — former CBC journalists who were known as "pioneers" of Inuktitut broadcasting.

Kelly and Kusugak join the list of 23 people being recognized for their contributions to the Canadian communications system, for whom meeting rooms at the building are being named. The list includes CBC journalist Barbara Frum, media mogul Ted Rogers, hockey broadcaster Foster Hewitt, and the inventor of the telephone Alexander Graham Bell.

These figures "have transformed the Canadian communications sector," said Jean-Pierre Blais, chairman of the CRTC.

Paul Irngaut, director of the Wildlife and Environment department of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., and a former CBC North journalist,, who knew Kelly and Kusugak, said "It's a great honour."

"They were very adamant and very passionate about Inuktitut language. They wanted to pursue the Inuktitut language and I'm very glad they're being recognized by CRTC," he said.

Simon Awa, a chief negotiator with the Government of Nunavut who also worked at CBC North with the men, said the recognition of Inuit journalists is "awesome."

Kusugak 'a pioneer'

Kusugak was a longtime defender of Inuktitut and Inuit culture.

"He was very adamant that we use Inuktitut," recalled Irngaut. "Jose was a pioneer in the Inuktitut language."

Kusugak worked with CBC North from 1980 to 1990 as the area manager for what is now Nunavut's Kivalliq region.

Afterwards, he served as president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. from 1994 to 2000, leading the organization as it began implementing the historic Inuit land claim that created Nunavut in 1999. From 2000 to 2006, Kusugak served two terms as president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada's national Inuit organization, and as president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association.

Kusugak advocated and taught Inuktitut throughout his career, even advocating for a standardized Inuktitut writing system and serving as a chair of the Inuit Language Commission.

"He had a wealth of knowledge," said Awa.

Kusugak died in 2011 at the age of 60, from cancer.

'I grew up listening to Jonah'

Kelly was one of the most recognized voices of Inuktitut broadcasting. His career spanned more than 30 years at the CBC, from 1965 to 1997.

"I grew up listening to Jonah. He was one of the pioneers of Inuktitut radio," said Irngaut.

"He was always in a happy mood," said Awa, who worked with Kelly. "He always had something to giggle about, something to laugh about."

Kelly was also a mentor.

"He was not in any way afraid to give advice to anybody, whether the person is a beginner at CBC, starting out as a reporter or host, or a seasoned reporter."

His career included many firsts, including the first Inuktitut coverage of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

"He was very adamant that the Inuktitut language should be very strong, and that it should be used on a daily basis," said Awa.

Kelly received many honours, including a CBC President's Award and an honorary journalism diploma from Arctic College in 1989. He also received a lifetime achievement award from the Baffin Region Chamber of Commerce and was recognized with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2002.

Following his career with the CBC, he worked with the Nunavut government, including serving on the Nunavut Law Review Commission.

Kelly died in 2012 at the age of 65.