Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Mar 10/00) - It's to the benefit of Inuvik that Violet Doolittle doesn't live up to her surname.

Far from "doing little" for her community, she was recognized last Thursday for her efforts -- particularly for her work with Family Counselling Services -- when the NWT Status of Women Council named her a 2000 Wise Women Award winner.

"She is a woman who is equally skilled in listening and sharing with others, and in knowing how to live well in the bush," wrote council president Vi Beck and vice- president Rosemary Cairns in a press release.

"She is an active volunteer in community activities in Inuvik and is always concerned about her people and their well-being."

The council described Doolittle's role in helping young mothers build solid foundations for their families, and said she was nominated by one such woman for the award.

"Whoever this young person is, I'd like to know," said Doolittle, "because I advocate a lot on their behalf, especially single parents, and I encourage them to go to school and really do believe in them."

Born to the late Mary and Ernie McDonald in Norman Wells, Doolittle has spent the last 26 years between Fort McPherson and Inuvik. She said she inherited her penchant for activism from her parents, a trait she and her husband, George, have tried to pass on to their five children.

"My mother just died on Jan. 31, but she and my dad did everything possible in their culture and were beautiful role models," she said. "I learned sharing from them, and even when my mom was in a wheelchair and couldn't do much she joked and laughed and offered people a place to stay."

Doolittle spent five years working at the Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre. Two years ago, she received an addictions diploma from Aurora College in Hay River and then began working for family counselling. This year she began working as residential school counsellor -- which is funded by the Tl'oondih and Aboriginal healing societies.

"I'm still counselling but now interacting more with other agencies and counselling both individuals and couples," she said. "While groups like the Grollier Hall organization work with potential survivors who will be going to court, I'm working as a counsellor to help them get better."

Family Counselling co-ordinator Arlene Jorgensen, who heard of Doolittle six years ago, said her reputation has only grown since then.

"Even then she had a reputation as a good person to go to for help," said Jorgensen, "and even when she went back to school and wasn't employed when the last Grollier Hall trial took place, she was still identified by those involved as someone they wanted support from -- she's been recognized for the contribution she makes."

Doolittle said while she loves counselling, the toughest aspect of the work can be helping people believe in themselves.

"I always tell people they've got the world at their fingertips," she said, "and when they do make changes they can be so proud of themselves, and it makes me proud of them, too."

Doolittle was to join five other NWT Wise Women Award recipients at an International Women's Day presentation at the legislative assembly yesterday.