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IQALUIT
Meeka Kakudluk is one of Nunavut's longest-standing teachers, but she still remembers her first day 35 years ago. That's because she almost missed it.

Meeka Kakudluk, centre, was honoured for 35 years of service at the Nunavut Teachers' Conference Feb. 16. Crystal Tobin, director of employee relations for the Government of Nunavut, and Nunavut Teachers' Association president Robin Langill presented the award. - photo courtesy of Nunavut Teachers' Association

"I didn't have a clock (the night before) and I was excited. It was going to be my first day," the Nakasuk School Inuktitut teacher recalled in the days after being receiving her long-service award at the Nunavut Teachers' Conference Feb. 16.

"I remember having a shower and then I put a towel over my hair. Somehow I fell asleep on the couch. The next thing I know there was a knock on the door. I got up and went to the door. There was my principal, Peter Grimm, saying the school has started.

"I was so embarrassed. He said, 'All the teachers are in the gym now, so you'd better go.' I said, 'Okay!' I didn't even say I'm sorry. I quickly took the towel off and I didn't even bother to wash. Peter Grimm was probably wondering how long I was going to last."

Grimm, who now lives in Edmonton with his wife Carol, doesn't remember that Kakudluk was late her first day, perhaps because he was "very pleased to have her on our team," he said, sending his congratulations by e-mail. "Her students were very lucky to have an Inuit teacher for their kindergarten year. Carol and I are thrilled to hear that Meeka has remained in education."

Kakudluk started teaching in Panniqtuuq after she graduated from Arctic College in Fort Smith in 1976. Her career continued in Qikiqtarjuaq before she moved to Iqaluit to pursue the Nunavut Teachers' Education Program through McGill. She also earned her Masters of Education degree in 2009 through the University of PEI.

"I have to teach what I have learned and what I know," the Inuktitut language and culture teacher said. "Today, especially here in Iqaluit, Inuktitut language is an issue and I would like to keep on teaching them what I know and what needs to be in the schools."

Her sister Malaya Audlakiak was also honoured for long-service; the Inuksuk High School teacher has been in education for 30 years. Kakudluk credits her parents and grandparents with giving her and her sister a solid foundation.

"Before I went to school, I did a lot of learning from my parents – for example, going on the land every summer and doing all kinds of chores," she said. "I learned my culture and language from my parents and grandparents before I went to school."

Her first school experience was at age nine in Padloping Island, between Qikiqtarjuaq and Pangnirtung.

"It was a one-teacher, one-classroom school. It was very, very small."

She spent her teenage years, from 1968 to 1971, at Churchill Vocational Centre in Churchill, Manitoba.

"Back then, that was the school that was available for students from all over the NWT," she said, noting that she's happy that "now students don't need to leave their communities to go to school."

She has been a teacher long enough that she has educated multiple generations.

"One of the Grade 2 students I have, I taught her mom when I was in Pangnirtung about 34 or 35 years ago. Most of the students I taught that first year have children and some are grandparents now."

Kakudluk loves to teach her culture and sing traditional songs with her students. She has also written a teacher's resource manual, and two books for children.

"My heart is telling me I'm not ready to retire yet," she said. "Who knows, I'm just taking it one day at a time right now.

"Another 35 years? Who knows. That's in my dreams right now."

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