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AKLAVIK
You won't catch Barbara Archie sitting idly around while there is tidying to do. Whether there is cleaning in the house, or litter on the ground, Archie will do her part - and then some - to keep things clean.

Barbara Archie received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in Aklavik on Oct. 10. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

In fact, Archie was recognized with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on Oct. 12 for her tireless commitment to volunteer work in Aklavik as well as in other communities which often involves cleaning up after community events or picking up litter on her own time.

"I was so excited," Archie said. "I never thought I would get anything."

Archie's contributions are appreciated by many and her mantra is quite simple: just stay busy by keeping things clean.

"Cleaning up inside, cleaning up outside," she says. "I just love to clean up the yards and clean around inside and outside."

Archie said she usually helps most with event clean ups and is renowned in her community for the work she does on her own time picking up litter or other debris.

"One time I was cleaning up this school yard this summer and this little lady was selling lemonade," Archie recalled. "I was picking up garbage all over the school with a bag and this little girl came over, 'Lady, do you want a lemonade? You keep our Earth so clean.' So she gave me a free a lemonade. Before I went to work I just picked up garbage around."

Archie said she is motivated by her love of her home community, Aklavik, to keep it free of debris. Picking up litter has been something she and her family have done for many years.

"When we first ... moved to Aklavik, me and my husband, Arnold, and my (late) brother, David, and this elderly lady, we used to go clean up the graveyard and clean up around," she said. "Just volunteering, cleaning up the cemetery and cleaning up around outside."

Archie, 61, worked for the RCMP as a janitor for 23 years before retiring in the early 2000s.

She has also been a foster parent for more than 20 years. She said the experience has been incredibly valuable and has resulted in some strong bonds with the kids she helped raise, one from as young as four months old.

"(I became a foster parent) just for kids to have a safe home," she said.

"It was good. For years I fostered."

Since retiring, Archie had committed a lot of her time volunteering at jamborees, feasts and other events both inside and outside Aklavik.

She said the best part about helping out in other communities' events is the chance to meet new people and visit with old friends.

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