In 2008, Obed was a candidate in Nunatsiavut's first presidential election.[7] He was defeated by Jim Lyall.
On September 17, 2015, Obed was elected president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national organization that represents Inuit across Canada.[8] Obed regularly speaks out about issues affecting the Arctic and Inuit community, such as the colonial harm of the Edmonton Eskimos football team's moniker,[9] the poor press coverage of the Prime Minister's apology for the government's role in the mistreatment of Inuit with tuberculosis in the 1940s to 1960s,[10] and the suicide epidemic.[11]
In 2016, he authored a report, "Inuit Priorities for Canada's Climate Strategy: A Canadian Inuit Vision for Our Common Future in Our Homelands",[12] and in 2019 the federal government committed $1 million toward implementing the strategy.[13]
In 2018, Maclean's named him one of five politicians to watch.[14] He currently lives in Iqaluit, Nunavut, with his wife and two sons.[11]
From 2025, Obed is serving as the vice chair representing Canada at the Inuit Circumpolar Council.[15]