School counsellor helps heal the hurting
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Cape Dorset (Dec 18/00) - Mukshowya Niviaqsi is in the life-saving business.
A resident of the south Baffin hamlet Cape Dorset, Niviaqsi works as a counsellor for youth at Peter Pitseolak high school. Given Nunavut's terrifying suicide statistics, she's on the front-line helping to solve the problem from the inside out.
"I counsel individuals and I do class presentations to students," said Niviaqsi, a mother of two children, ages 1 and 10.
"I mainly do life skills stuff like behaviour, attitudes or if anybody has problems growing up or anger management," she said.
In the position for 10 years, Niviaqsi said she's helped a lot of students over the years. That's something she truly enjoys about her job.
"The thing I like most is having contact with the students either individually or as a group," said Niviaqsi.
On the other hand, sometimes the barrage of problems makes her feel sad. She said in that situation, all she can do is remain strong and offer the hurting students her advice.
"There's been so many times when I wish I had a magic wand so I could get rid of everybody's problems, especially when the students are hurt or depressed," she said.
"That really hurts me on the inside."
When the busy, lifelong resident of Cape Dorset isn't offering her counselling to students or working as a mom, she takes part in the monthly women's healing circles, attends workshops and works with the Nunavut Employees Union.
