Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 02/00) - Katarie Taqaogak's first name means broken healer.

Taqaogak is from Iglulik and she was in Iqaluit last Monday along with seven other people to receive counselling certification from the California-based William Glasser Institute -- an internationally acclaimed organization that specializes in training councillors in choice theory and reality therapy.

At the beginning of the certification ceremony held at the Iqaluit wellness centre, one of the eight, Leetia Koksiak, lit a qullik, a soapstone bowl shaped like a black half-moon filled with seal oil and a wick made from a mix of cotton-grass and moss, spread on the flat edge.

Taqaogak said, for her, the qullik represents the past 18 months of work that have lead up to this moment.

"The soapstone means survival," said Taqaogak giving her own personal interpretation, "the oil is speech to guide, the fire is light that takes away confusion, and the wick is choice."

The ceremony was thick with metaphor. Choice theory and reality therapy are based on personal empowerment and every one of the eight spokes of the course is a life-altering experience.

The ceremony represented the essence of Nunavut, the quest for self-determination, and self-government, the self-empowerment of a whole culture.

One of the eight, Beverly Illauq from Clyde River, read a verse from Isaiah 58: 9-12, "...your people will rebuild their culture and will raise up the age-old foundations..."

"This program helps teach us all to be empowered, to move ahead no matter what happens," said Illauq.

"It affirms connection with the creator and with each other."

Anthony Qrunnut from Iglulik couldn't hide his grin.

"This program opens a lot of doors in counselling," said Qrunnut through an interpreter, "it's going to have a big impact."

The William Glasser Certification program in Nunavut began two years ago as compulsory for all councillors beneath the umbrella of the department of health and social services in the Baffin region.

Doug Sage, health and social services director for the Baffin region, has been a certified instructor of choice therapy and reality therapy for 30 years.

He pushed for the $200,000-a-year program to become mandatory. The money comes from a federal program.

Participants travelled to Iqaluit three to four times a year for training.

The Glasser Institute was founded in 1967 and its theories are based on the premise that humans need fun, freedom, a sense of belonging and power to survive.

Taqaogak, Koksiak, Illuaq, Qrunnut, Leetia Koqalschuk, Dorthe Kunuk, Mary Vermillion of Iqaluit and Seepa Nowdlak of Pangnirtung all received certificates and are now certified to use what they have learned.