Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 14/02) - Akitsiraq law student Aaju Peter is becoming adept at multi-tasking.

When her youngest son wants her to read to him, she recites from her law books.

Last term, swamped with work and pressed for time, she read him some very abstract property law definitions. "He said, 'Are you nuts? I don't get it.'"

"I just laughed," said Peter. "He didn't get it and neither did I."

Peter, originally from Greenland but an Iqaluit resident for several years, is one of the 15 Inuit students attending law school at Arctic College. When students graduate from the four-year program, they will receive law degrees from the University of Victoria.

All students, except one, receive sponsorships of $52,000, most of them from government and Inuit associations. In return, students commit to two four-month work placements during school and two years of service to their sponsor.

English is Peter's fourth language. "Law is a different language of its own," she said. "And learning it in a new language is even more challenging."

In the first term, students studied the notoriously tough subject of property law. And although students found it hard, the experience will prepare them for the next four years.

"It's not going to be easy; it takes 24 hours a day," said Peter, who has five children. "At first, I couldn't believe that I didn't even have time to sit down and write a letter."

She feels guilty for spending less time with her children. "But I'm doing this not only for myself, but also for them and the community."

Peter wants to help bridge the gap between the Western legal system and traditional Inuit ways of dealing with conflict."I want to know what law is. I want to know who law belongs to."

Peter knows she has a lot to learn about Western law, but also about traditional law.

Culture gap

During her first term, Peter went to visit an elder she greatly respects. She complained about how hard school is and how difficult it is to always think in English. The elder turned to her and said. "But you guys are all a bunch of white people anyway."

"It was a blow," said Peter. "But to her, we do everything the way qallunaat do."

In May and June, elders will sit in on classes. "I'd like them to bring definitions and explanations of definitions," said Peter. "What do they understand by hurting someone? How and when is someone responsible?"

"Hopefully, I can have a much better understanding of how to help Inuit people in the future,"she said.

"I don't know how good I will be at helping," she added. "But I want to have a better understanding so I don't just draw conclusions."

Peter hopes to work on family and social issues and wants to help explain legal concepts to Inuit, especially to those who are unilingual.

"Knowledge is a privilege and it should be shared with other people," she said. "It's like food. It's like wealth."

Another law student, Lillian Aglukark of Arviat, also found the first term challenging. "It was a little overwhelming, but it's a good feeling to get that part out of the way," she said.

Aglukark said when people from Arviat hear she is will become a lawyer in the North, it lifts their spirits.

"The pride shows on their faces," she said.