Hon. Paul Okalik Copyright

Okalik was born at Pangnirtung in the Northwest Territories in 1964. He was the youngest of ten children, and his father was a hunter.

After his teens, he got a job at the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut. In this new job he received high praise and gained confidence. This work led him to settle in Ottawa, and inspired him to go back to school. He received a degree in political science from Carleton University in 1995, and then entered law school at the University of Ottawa. In 1997 he finished his law degree, and moved to Iqaluit where he worked for a law firm.

During his studies Okalik began to think that he could best help his fellow Inuit by getting involved in politics. He decided to run for office and soon won the seat for Iqaluit West in Nunavut's first Legislative Assembly. On March 5, 1999 the members of the Assembly chose him as their premier.