Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Cambridge Bay (May 28/01) - For Kane Tologanak, the posthumous award given to his brother will bring the closure he's sought for years.
Presented to the Tologanak family by Nunavut Commissioner Peter Irniq earlier this month, the Award for Bravery comes nearly 40 years after David Tologanak saved his sister's life.
David died in a house fire in the 1990s, but, his family and friends crowded around the Commissioner the night Irniq made the presentation in Cambridge Bay.
"Even though it was such a long time ago, it made me have such a big lump in my throat," said Tologanak.
"I'm the oldest one in the family now. Having all my nieces and nephews present, I have to be strong. I told them we have to celebrate what their dad has done."
While travelling by dogsled with his family, one of David's siblings fell into a small crevice. David's parents jumped off the sled to rescue their child.
The sled kept moving and David and his sister fell into a deeper crevice.
Even though David broke his collar bone, he climbed back down into the crevice and rescued his sister. Just five-years old, David was then medevaced south for treatment.
"Everyone was so proud that my brother finally received something," said Tologanak.
"It helps say good-bye. The time has come now for final closure," he said.
Irniq said he, too, felt honoured and touched by being asked to hand the family the Award for Bravery.
"Even though it's been a long, long time, David saved his sister's life," said Irniq.
"It's particularly touching ... for me because my own brother died by drowning in 1968. It's never too late to recognize what people do," he said.
Cambridge Bay Mayor Keith Peterson nominated David for the award, wanting his long-ago efforts to be remembered.
Peterson and the hamlet council also recommended the local Army Cadets and the Kitikmeot Heritage Society for Commissioner's Awards. The mayor said it was a project he started working on last January. He knew the legislature would be travelling to his community and he wanted to seize the opportunity to have local people recognized for their important contributions.
"Our region quietly achieves things for the good of everybody, but we don't blow our own horns," said Peterson.
Groups recognized
Darrell Ohokannoak has been associated with the cadets for 19 years. First a member of the youth group and now an adult volunteer and instructor, Ohokannoak said the Commissioner's Award for Youth Achievement and Accomplishment was important to the cadets because it showed the community valued their presence.
"Now that we're recognized in the community, it's that much more exciting," said Ohokannoak.
Kim Crockatt, the president of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society, was also proud of the Commissioner's Award for Acquisition of Special Skills.
For the last 12 years, the society has been developing and collecting Inuit cultural materials. Largely an oral history project, combining historical photographs and other archives, the work of Crockatt and the elders ensures Inuit culture is protected and passed on.
"I think everybody is thrilled to be recognized," said Crockatt.
