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18th Inuit Studies Conference, Washington DC, October 25, 2012
“From E-Discs to Passports”Proving Inuit Identity without Identification
Presenters: April Dutheil, BA (Hons.)1,2 and Amy Owingayak1,3
1. Nanisiniq Arviat History Project, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
2. Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada3. Nunavut Sivuniksavut, Ottawa ON, Canada
The Problem
The Journey
The New Problem
Geographical Barriers: Obtaining a Passport Photo
“Trying to get a picture for your passport, it's also hard to get in the
north, this one time I tried to get my passport before we went to
Durban, South Africa. I even had to get a different picture because it
was one centimeter too long so I had to get another photo.”
-Curtis Kuunuaq Konek, September 12, 2012
Geographical Barriers: Obtaining a Passport Photo
“Well it gets a little easier when you try and apply for a passport for the
second time because you know the procedures and know you have to
get a clear picture. This summer Jordan and I filled out an application
for Martha and trying to get a photo taken for her we had to get our
lighting kit to get the shadows off her back and it was hard, we and the
[Hamlet] worker tried many different spots for the light to get a clearer
picture for Martha.”
-Curtis Kuunuaq Konek, September 12, 2012
Geographical Barriers: Southern Access
“Getting the picture taken was probably the most easiest in the city
because they knew what to do.”
-Amy Owingayak, September 13, 2012
Geographical Barriers: Finding a Guarantor
“Filling out a passport for the first time in the north is hard. It's even
harder to find a guarantor. It's like trying to find a missing button
where you drop it (that is you don't know anyone who has a passport in
your community).”
-Curtis Kuunuaq Konek, September 12, 2012
Western Biases in Bureaucratic Systems: Linguistic Barriers
“I know we can understand English and can read English, the point was
that Inuit don't read books. We're verbally organized, verbally as in
speaking only....”
-Jordan Konek, August 5, 2011
Western Biases in Bureaucratic Systems: Validation & Proof
“[The passport application] was just like any other Government
applications ‘Read through carefully, get all requirements before
sending’ in the end they're not always that serious.”
-Jordan Konek, August 18, 2012
Western Biases in Bureaucratic Systems: Validation & Proof
Western Biases in Bureaucratic Systems: Ethnic Determinants
� Nunavut as a new territory
� The culture of power & inequality in navigating western bureaucracies
� Privilege reflects outcomes, allowing participation of some and blocking others
Conclusion
� The use of passport applications to validate identity are continued and
rarely-contested processes, making them seem automatic and ritualistic in
nature. The appearance of government documents as normal, limits and
further reinforces the likelihood that applications will not be contested.
The passport application and similar rigid forms of ideological
legitimization created by government institutions exclude the
consideration of cultural diversity and full participation of Inuit (Paré,
2002).
References
� Paré, Anthony (2002). Genre and identity: Individuals,
institutions, and ideology. In R. Coe, L. Lingard and T. Teslenko,
The rhethoric and ideology of genre. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press,
57-71.
Acknowledgements
� Jordan Konek, Nanisiniq Arviat History Project, Arviat Nunavut
� Curtis Kuunuaq Konek, Nanisiniq Arviat History Project, Arviat Nunavut
� Jamie Bell, Nunavut Arctic College, Arviat Nunavut
� Dr. Frank James Tester, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia
Blog: [email protected] - Twitter: @NanisiniqArviat
Questions
April Dutheil, BA (Hons.) Amy OwingayakE. [email protected] E. [email protected]
