 | E-mail this story |  | Write letter to editor |  | Order a classified ad |
| E-mail this story | | Write letter to editor | | Order a classified ad |
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Tanuyak is the first high school graduate of Victor Sammurtok school in Chesterfield Inlet to come back to the community to teach.
The 23-year-old was born and raised in Chester and knew early in life she wanted to become a teacher.
After completing high school, she went to Rankin Inlet to begin her studies in the three year Northern Teachers Education program.
"At the end of my second year I was the only student remaining in the course, so I had to transfer to Iqaluit for my third year," says Tanuyak
A full slate awaited Tanuyak in her first year teaching at Victor Sammurtok.
She is the homeroom teacher for Grade 7 and 8, teaches English in kindergarten and physical education in grades one through four.
"At the first of the year I was going through a bit of an assessment, both as a teacher and with my students, but things settled down a bit and now everything's great."
Tanuyak is one of eight children, having three sisters and four brothers.
To relax, she enjoys cooking, sewing and playing sports, especially ice hockey.
Tanuyak says it's not easy for kids growing up in small Inuit communities to find a positive role model within their own culture who they can look up to.
She says people who come in from the South can have a positive impact.
But, she adds, it's hard for Inuit youth to use them as an example to become teachers or lawyers because they know those people come from such a different environment.
"When somebody from your community actually becomes one, that's when the levels of determination and self-esteem build up and people can move forward more.
"I told my peers, I'm from Chester, and if I can graduate high school and go on to become a teacher, they can do it too."
Tanuyak says wanting to become successful is the first step, but you also have to be willing to work hard and, most importantly, believe in yourself and your abilities.
As for any future plans of her own, Tanuyak is keeping it simple.
"I'm taking it one day at a time," she says with a laugh.
