MANITOK THOMPSON RETIRES AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INUIT BROADCASTING CORPORATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2025
OTTAWA – After a remarkable career that has included running the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), working as an educator, serving the Northwest Territories as the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and being one of the first politicians and only woman elected to the Legislative Assembly in the Nunavut Government, Manitok Thompson is retiring as executive director of IBC.
Mrs. Thompson joined IBC almost a decade ago as an archivist, during which time she viewed and described thousands of hours of priceless footage of the past, enabling the Inuit Film and Video Archive to be made available to the public for enjoyment. She moved into the position of Executive Director five years ago.
Mrs. Thompson’s life’s work has been committed to the betterment of Inuit. She did this through her work in education, working as a teacher, teacher consultant, Inuktitut Programs Specialist and Director of Interpreter Services at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. She focused on elevating Inuit throughout her political career when she was elected to the Northwest Territories’ Legislature and subsequently to serve as a Minister in the first Nunavut Government. After her political career, she worked for the Education Department on the Education Act for the Nunavut Territory and volunteered for seven years as a pastor and counsellor to patients travelling from Nunavut to Ottawa and is an advocate for Inuit Elders.
Most recently, she focused on telling Inuit stories through media in her role as the 1st Inuk Executive Director of Inuit Broadcasting Corporation. Mrs. Thompson sought advice and ideas from numerous unilingual elders and created three brand-new television shows that highlight and celebrate the excellence of Inuit Culture and Language.
‘Ikpaksaq’ showcases elders’ old photographs while capturing their family legacy, ‘Tiiturta’ delves into the lives of Inuit youth and their complicated relationship with culture and language and ‘Maqaittut’ (a new hunting show) which reimagines documentary television from an Inuit perspective. There is nothing like it on television. Along with creating new programs, Mrs. Thompson rejuvenated ‘Qanuq Isumavit’ through a social and political lens with topics and hosts that are relevant, timely and impactful throughout the territory, all in Inuktut.
Mrs. Thompson has dedicated her professional life to advocating for Inuit rights, culture and language above all else and her legacy with continue to empower and inspire the next generation of Inuit leaders in the industry and beyond.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff and all those who have been impacted by your unwavering commitment to advocating for Inuit rights and culture, we thank you and hope you enjoy this next phase of your life.
For more information, please contact Karen Prentice, IBC Director of Communications and Content, at (613) 235-1892 or karen@inuitbroadcasting.ca.
IBC Press Release Manitok Thompson Retirement Final
