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IGLULIK
An interest in teaching Inuit students in Iglulik their traditions prompted Thomas Kublu, 70, to become a certified Innait Inuksiutilirijiit.

He achieved that goal on April 25 when he was one of 15 elders certified as Innait Inuksiutilirijiit under the Education Act, recognizing him as part of a school's education staff.

Premier Eva Aariak and Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk travelled to the community for the occasion.

"I am very happy about receiving this certificate and I have been thinking about this for so many years," said Kublu, speaking through interpreter Lucie Tapardjuk.

Ever since he heard about elder certification, he thought about pursuing it since he doesn't want Inuit values, traditional skills and language to be forgotten, said Kublu.

Now that he's got the certificate, he will do more to help students.

"Since we are from up North, from Nunavut, and in the past, our traditions, our values, our skills and our language - very important for us because we live here, up in the North and this is our home," said Kublu.

Tapardjuk, paraphrasing Kublu, said "He doesn't want us to forget our language and our cultural and our traditions, values and skills."

Born and raised near Pond Inlet, Kublu moved to Iglulik in 1958 and worked from 1967 to 1995 as a maintenance supervisor with the Territorial Department of Public Works. He also worked as a research mechanical repairman at the Iglulik Research Centre from 1974 to 1980 and served as mayor from 1987 to 1990. He has also been a catechist since 1986, helping children learn Roman Catholicism.

Sean Broderick, vice-principal of Ataguttaaluk High School, said Kublu is one of the school's resident elders. He added he is in the school almost every day and works with any teacher needing him.

"When we run our land program - when we build our iglus for teaching outside the school - Thomas is involved in all those things. So, he's a really useful resource for us in so many different ways," said Broderick. "He's a very nice man. He's very kind and very gentle and very knowledgeable. He's a great speaker and a very good storyteller."

Iglulik has 15 elders certified under the Education Act as of April 25 but 15 more were probably sitting in the audience that day awaiting certification, said Broderick - a testament to the community's strengths in culture and language.

Certificate recipients

• Leonie Qrunnut
• Margaret Kipsigak
• Josephine Kublu
• Atuat Akittirq
• Therese Uttak
• Eulalie Angutimarik
• Deporah Qaunaq
• Martha Qattalik
• Susan Avingaq
• Madeline Ivalu
• Abraham Ulayuruluk
• Peter Awa
• Louis Alianakuluk Uttak
• Thomas Kublu
• Herve Paniaq

Source: Department of Education

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