The Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council spoke out against the recent election of Joe Otokiak as president of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, after learning that he is serving an assault sentence in the community.

“The appointment in elections of individuals that have criminal records sends a message that violence is OK and acceptable,” Qulliit president Donna Olsen-Hakongak told CBC News in an interview that ran Wednesday.

“On behalf of the council, we strongly believe violence is wrong in all accounts.”

Otokiak, an interpreter from Cambridge Bay, began his three-year term as the KIA’s president on April 1. He won the position in board elections on March 18.

But many voters, and even the KIA’s chief returning officer, have said they did not know Otokiak was six months into a 12-month suspended sentence for assault at the time of the KIA elections.

While Otokiak is serving his suspended sentence in the community, he could go to jail if he violates any conditions imposed on him by the court.

But in an interview, Otokiak said his sentence will not stop him from doing a good job as KIA president.

“It has been dealt with already and the board members are aware of the situation, so there seems to be no problems with my taking on the office while under that suspension,” Otokiak said.

He said the offence for which he’s serving his current sentence was not terribly serious.

“This one was very minor; that’s why the sentence was suspended,” he said.

Otokiak’s election did not violate any rules of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, as election bylaws only ban candidates who have been convicted of an indictable offence in the past five years.

His conviction was for a summary offence, which is considered to be less serious.

But the status of women council wants to see anyone with a criminal record banned from running for office, unless they have been pardoned by the federal government.

“Although I appreciate that people make mistakes and learn from them, and take that learning and become good, honest, committed people that give back to the community, I also think the pardoning process helps people put their past behind them,” Olsen-Hakongak said.

Ottawa can issue a pardon to allow someone’s criminal record to be cleared, but that can only be done three to five years after that person’s sentence is completed. Therefore, Otokiak would have to wait until at least 2011 to seek a pardon.

Last month, Qulliit expressed outrage over the cabinet appointment of Quttiktuq MLA Levi Barnabas, who pleaded guilty to sexual assault in 2000.

At the time, Premier Paul Okalik said the one-time Speaker of the house, who resigned following his conviction, deserves another chance. Barnabas was re-elected as MLA in 2004.

Olsen-Hakongak said Qulliit will continue to lobby for changes to rules that allow people with criminal records to take elected office.