Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

INUVIK
By all accounts, Paulousie Ittungna didn't have a single bad bone in his body.

Jacinta, left, Brandi, Beau, Chloe and Liam Larocque hold a Grade 12 photo of Paulousie Ittungna and two of his prized jerseys. Ittungna, 18, was found dead on Gwich'in Road Sunday morning. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

The dedicated athlete, friend, brother and son is being remembered this week as someone who never gave up and loved the outdoors.

RCMP on Wednesday officially released the identity of the 18-year-old male found dead on Gwich'in Road on Sunday morning. The community of Inuvik is mourning the loss of Ittungna and at East 3, Ittungna's locker is decorated with notes and signed volleyballs are placed on top. Counsellors were available throughout the day on Monday in case anyone needed to talk.

Colten Gruben remembers meeting Ittungna for the first time a couple of winters ago.

"It was IRC Cup weekend and I was outside with a few friends, Paulou was standing there but I didn't know him yet," said Gruben. "He looked at me and said, 'Boy, you're short,' and I told him we're the same height. We traded last names and then he said ... 'I think we might be cousins.'"

Ittungna had a good sense of humour, according to those that knew him. He stayed with Margaret Larocque and her family for three years while he was going to school.

"He worked for me, too, at my cleaning company," said Margaret. "One day he came up to me and said 'We refuse to be janitors; we're sanitary engineers.'"

He was a role model for many in the community, including Chloe Larocque, who credits Ittungna with getting her into volleyball and fostering her love of the sport.

"He made me find my passion for volleyball," said Chloe. "He taught me lots. I wouldn't know how to play without him."

Ittungna was so dedicated to sports that Chelsey Larocque remembers him showing up at a few slo-pitch games still wearing work clothes from his summer job helping fight forest fires.

"One time he was dropped right off at the field and he was just black," said Chelsey. "He was covered in so much dirt you couldn't even see him. Someone had to lend him running shoes because all he had with him were his work boots."

Ittungna graduated high school but had returned to East 3 for academic upgrading. One of his dreams was to go to university and play volleyball while studying culinary arts.

"Our last meal with him, he came over and made tacos for us," said Margaret. "That was Thursday. He dropped in and we ate."

Ittungna stayed with the Larocque family for three years to complete his education. His mom had moved to the Eastern Arctic in the middle of a school year and Ittungna wanted to stay in Inuvik.

Fundraisers are currently being held to help cover the costs of the funeral, which will be in Inuvik.

"I think his mom wants to have the service at the school," said Margaret. "That way there's room for everyone."

Ittungna is not the kind of person who would want his friends to dwell on bad memories, said Ron Gruben.

"I'm pretty sure he'd want all his friends to continue with their dreams," he said.

"It's like we have an empty house here now, knowing that he's gone."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.