Parliamentary Relatives: Representing the Place of Spirits.

• Author: Hyde, Andrea
• Position: Newfoundland and Labrador

The Newfoundland and Labrador electoral district of Torngat Mountains encompasses the whole northern portion of Labrador. It is the largest district geographically; covering approximately 28 per cent of the province's total land area. Containing six Indigenous communities, none of which are accessible by road, the district is named for the awe-inspiring Torngat Mountain range. The name Torngat is derived from an Inuktitut word meaning 'place of spirits', and the entire region is an Inuit homeland.

Representation in the House of Assembly from this district has seen some impressive family connections. The current Member, Lela Evans has held the Torngat Mountains seat since the 2019 general election, when she defeated her cousin, Randy Edmunds by 145 votes. Randy represented the district form 2011 to 2019, and was the first Member to wear a traditional Inuit silapak in the House of Assembly. Lela's uncle Wally Andersen represented the area from the general election on February 22, 1996 until his resignation in September...