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ARVIAT - The journey of a Grade 3 student at Levi Angmak elementary school in Arviat is an inspiring one.

Kimberly Joy Anoee, 8, is deaf and cannot speak.

Crystal Kalluak uses American sign language to talk with deaf classmate Kimberly Joy Anoee, sitting, at Levi Angmak elementary school in Arviat this past month. - photo courtesy of Bob Wells

She is progressing through the school system with the aid of American sign language (ASL) interpreter Jody Pameolik.

Anoee's homeroom teacher, Molly Kidlapik, said the young girl's presence at school has helped many other students to also learn ASL.

She said Pameolik teaches a lesson in ASL almost every day and the kids always look forward to it.

"Valentine's Day is getting close, so Jody's showing them a lot of ASL for words that have to do with that right now," said Kidlapik.

"We did the same thing at Christmas for our school concert and sometimes I pick a song - just in English because Kimberly (Anoee) can only take the English stream until Grade 5 - and Jody translates it in ASL for the kids to learn.

"It's wonderful to see the other kids learning to communicate with Kimberly in this manner."

Kidlapik said Anoee is doing well in school and is starting to write in English on her own.

She said many of her classmates have learned to sign and use it to communicate with her every day.

"The other kids treat Kimberly just like any other student, except they have to talk to her with their hands instead of their mouths.

"I didn't know any sign language until Kimberly moved over to my class this past August.

"Now I'm learning ASL as I go along, and sometimes, if Jody's not in the class for some reason, one of my students will interpret for me if I can't remember the correct sign for something.

"Most of these kids have been with Kimberly since kindergarten and it's amazing to see how well some of them have learned ASL."

Kidlapik said the other kids are always quick to help Anoee, if she needs it, during special projects.

She said they'll even run to get Pameolik if it's something they can't help Anoee with.

"Kimberly works very hard and she learns something new almost every day.

"I'm very pleased with both how well this model has worked for Kimberly, and the great job Jody's doing with the interpreting.

"I'm happy to be part of it all and learning along with Kimberly and the rest of the students."

Pameolik was working as a student-support assistant at the school in 2004 when she was asked by a senior staff member if she'd be interested in learning how to become an ASL interpreter.

She did her own resume, submitted it and was accepted two weeks later.

"I had to travel to Winnipeg to take my initial course and I've travelled back there every year for the past four-and-one-half years to take more training," said Pameolik.

"I love working with Kimberly and I work hard to get better for her.

"It was hard to communicate, at first, but I kept trying my best using the ASL dictionary and we just started doing it.

"We kept getting stronger using it every day and it's fantastic now."

Pameolik said it's also pretty special to see Kidlapik learning to sign by watching her and Anoee.

She said an ASL interpreter had to be hired for Anoee to go to school, and she's proud to be the person selected for the position.

"Kimberly started in kindergarten and I've been with her every year.

"I would always get so excited when Kimberly made the right signs, and that always made me want to be a stronger interpreter for her.

"She never likes to make a mistake because she always wants her signing to be right."

Although only eight years old, Anoee is already looking ahead to her future.

Pameolik said Anoee understands if she wants to go to university when she grows up, the only way she can do it is through ASL.

She said the eager young student is always telling her she wants to work with Calm Air when she grows up, as an agent or flight attendant.

"Kimberly's getting a lot stronger using ASL this year and her signs are getting a lot faster.

"She's not shy about correcting other students when they make a mistake and aren't using the signs correctly, and that's good for everybody.

"We have another deaf student in Grade 2 and another who's very hard of hearing, so ASL is playing a growing role at our school.

"We also have a second ASL interpreter now, Kimberly Uluadluak, who is in her first year as an interpreter."