Former Nunavut Member of Parliament Jack Anawak was recognized Friday for his role in helping Nunavut's Human Rights Act become law.

In November of 2003 Anawak, then an MLA for Rankin Inlet, made an impassioned speech about human rights in the territory.

Excerpt
"Where did we get the power to give rights and take away rights?

"When did we decide to set aside our time-honoured values and beliefs about the value and integrity of all people?

"In other words, what are we doing as members of our society supporting such non-democratic behaviour, judgments and attitude?

"If anything as leaders, we should be confronting this unacceptable way of thinking, loudly and clearly, and we should be busy re-affirming and protecting the rights of all."

The debate in the legislature was heated and divisive, with the issue of sexual orientation pitting politicians against each other.

Labour groups say Anawak's words helped make Bill 12 become a reality.

Now Anawak's speech has been published in a booklet, and distributed at a special launch Friday at the Visitors Centre in Iqaluit.

"It really felt that Jack Anawak spoke most passionately about the need for human rights and really looking at or questioning, who gets to choose, who's equal?," says Maureen Doherty of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour.

Anawak, now Canada's special ambassador for the Arctic, says he's honoured to help mark the anniversary. But he's modest about the impact of his speech on the passage of the legislation.

"I was trying to make it from the point of view as an Inuk who'd always learned that the only way we move forward is if we get along together and move forward," he says.

The booklet will be available free of charge in English and Inuktitut.