Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

BAKER LAKE (Mar 10/99) - The attentiveness of a young woman to the stories her grandmother told her of the ways of her people led to an historic moment this past week when the senate of Ontario's University of Guelph announced Baker Lake's Irene Avaalaaqiaq has become the first aboriginal Canadian to be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from that university.

Avaalaaqiaq was awarded the degree in recognition of the outstanding contribution she has made to the development of Inuit art and the leadership role she has played through her work in wall hangings, drawings and sculptures.

Avaalaaqiaq has returned to Baker Lake from the grand opening of a successful large show of her art at the Marion Scott Gallery in Vancouver. Born in Tasiqpak, past Princess Mary Lake, around 1940, Avaalaaqiaq came to Baker Lake in 1959, where she's lived ever since.

She started creating her art in 1969-70 when she decided she wanted to do something to preserve her grandmother Arngnasungaaq's tales of how Inuit life used to be. She says she's never been influenced by other artists, but constantly fuelled by the desire to preserve "the old ways," so people other than Inuit would know what their lives used to be.

"I feel I'm helping to preserve our culture and many Inuit beliefs through my work," says Avaalaaqiaq. "My grandmother told me animals used to transform into humans and the shaman used to transform them into any form.

"Caribou transforming into humans still goes on. All these things actually happen and I express that in my artwork."

Avaalaaqiaq says she's very pleased she's being recognized for her work and very happy she paid attention to her grandmother's words because that led to all the rest.

The Keewatin artist says she wants the Inuit way of life to be preserved and always remembered. Even upon her death, she says in earnest, she wants her culture to continue and hopes her art will continue to remind people of the Inuit culture.

"I am very pleased and honoured by the University of Guelph's decision to award me with the doctor of laws degree. Before this, I used to feel, sometimes, what's the use? But this has inspired me more.

"Since 1969-70 I was producing my artwork, nothing seemed to be coming out of it and I wondered if it was worth it, but now I know it was. When I was in Vancouver, and it was mentioned, I had tears in my eyes."

The honorary degree will be presented at the Fall Convocation on Oct. 19. Avaalaaqiaq will give a 10-minute convocation address to the 850 graduating students from the College of Arts. An exhibition of her art will also be held during the occasion.