Iqaluit (Mar 03/03) - Saa Pitsiulak has an important role in Nunavut. She is helping to bring a Northern flare to eastern arctic classrooms.

Saa Pitsiulak has been a teacher for 21 years. Currently, she works with the Nunavut Teacher Education Program at Arctic College. - Chris Puglia/NNSL photo

Pitsiulak is an instructor with the Nunavut Teacher Education Program, which is helping to increase the number of Inuit teachers.

"It's exciting for me to be a graduate of the program and to be teaching future teachers," said Pitsiulak.

That level of enthusiasm is compounded by a sense of pride in work she said is vital to Northern education.

"It's essential because we need more Inuit teachers working in all schools," she said.

"It is important for the students up here to be taught in their first language and to also learn about their culture.

"If a person has foundation in their own identity they are better able to go out into the world and pursue whatever they wish to go after."

Pitsiulak has been a teacher since 1981 and over the years she has taught elementary, junior high, high school and adult education.

Currently she spends her time teaching post-secondary students to do the very thing she has done for the past 22 years -- teach.

"I'm proud. I'm happy to contribute what I've learned and all my experience in the classroom," she said.

She teaches Inuktitut language courses and methodology of teaching, and deals a lot with the first year students.

Pitsiulak said she tries to remember what it was like for her when she was in their shoes.

"I remember not having a lot of experience and being shy," she said.

Taught in five Nunavut communities, the program has 61 students enroled.

"I hope to see the program offered in other communities. I'd like us to produce more Inuit teachers," she said.