| Cathy Towtongie | |
| Residence: | Rankin Inlet, Nunavut |
| Office1: | Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut |
| Constituency1: | Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet |
| Term Start1: | October 30, 2017 |
| Term End1: | September 20, 2021 |
| Predecessor1: | Tom Sammurtok |
| Successor1: | Alexander Sammurtok |
Q. Cathy Towtongie is a Canadian Inuk politician from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut in the 2017 general election to represent the electoral district of Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet.[1]
Prior to her election to the legislature, Towtongie served two terms as president of Nunavut Tunngavik from 2001 to 2004 and from 2010 to 2016.[2] In this role, she faced criticism when she publicly objected to Iqaluit City Council's decision to raise a rainbow flag during the 2014 Winter Olympics in protest against the Russian gay propaganda law.[3]
In 2020 she faced further criticism when she objected to the use of the word two-spirit in a motion on missing and murdered Indigenous women by fellow MLA Elisapee Sheutiapik, arguing that the concept was not a part of Inuit culture.[4] The criticism included an open letter from actress Anna Lambe, calling on the legislature to censure Towtongie for her comments.[5] In 2021, just a few days before the commencement of the 2021 Nunavut general election campaign, Towtongie criticized the clothing manufacturer Canada Goose for its decision to stop using natural fur in its products.[6]
Towtongie was defeated in the 2021 election by Alexander Sammurtok.[7]