A caring hand from Australia
Arviat youth blown away by camera
from Uncle Bob
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
ARVIAT
An Arviat youth was beaming with pride after receiving a surprise gift from Australia's "Uncle" Bob Carveth this past month.
Mortise Oroluk proudly displays a new camera sent to him by Australia's Uncle Bob (Carveth) this past month in Arviat. - photo courtesy of Eric Anoee |
Mortise Oroluk was given the present by his two friends, Nangmalik and Garreth Anoee.
Nangmalik and Garreth's father, Eric Anoee, said Oroluk is from a single-parent family, being raised by his mother.
He said Oroluk is outgoing, friendly and always eager to please.
"He is good friends with my two boys and enjoys, very much, going put on the land with us," said Eric.
"He came ptarmigan hunting with us and I took some photos of us out there.
"I sent some of the photos to Uncle Bob and he immediately started getting curious about Mortise.
"He wanted to know more about him and I hoped he might send him a hat with Australia on it because I thought Mortise would enjoy having someone all the way over in Aussie land knew him."
Uncle Bob is well-known for aiding Inuit youth with generous gifts of cameras and other various electronics to help them develop skills.
So it wasn't long before a camera arrived for Eric to surprise Oroluk with.
Eric said when Oroluk goes out on the land with his family, the youngster shows a real eagerness to learn.
He said he makes the best of every chance he gets.
"Being raised by a single parent he obviously doesn't get a lot of opportunities, but he's very interested when he does.
"He does the chores I give him quickly and, if he doesn't know how to do something, he asks right away."
Eric said it was a special moment when Garreth and Nangmalik presented the camera to Oroluk.
He said at first, Oroluk thought they might be playing a joke on him.
"We told him someone in Australia knew him, but he didn't believe us," said Eric with a laugh.
"When he saw the camera and picture of Uncle Bob, he just froze and couldn't believe someone as far away as Australia cared enough to do this for him.
"Uncle Bob has done so much for Inuit youth, the Government of Nunavut should do something to recognize him.
"He's touched so many lives in Nunavut, and boosted the self-confidence of these kids and given them something to look forward to."
