Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Broughton Island (Feb 11/02) - Liz Keallen is inspired by what she has seen in Qikiqtarjuaq.

A certified sign-language interpreter from Vancouver, Keallen was hired to help develop signing skills in students and staff at Inuksuit school and in the Central Baffin community.

In just the two short weeks she's been in Qikiqtarjuaq, she said she's already seen a difference in 13-year-old Andrew Kuksiuk.

Kuksuit is one of two deaf children in the community. The second is five-year old Angie Alookie.

"I see the lights go on in him. I see the information going to him. That's very inspiring," said Keallen. "It keeps my energy up when I see that."

Until Keallen arrived in the community, Kuksiuk and Alookie had no consistent sign-language support. That absence was particularly hard on Kuksiuk, who is farther along in the school system than Alookie.

Yvonne Smith saw how the lack of communication was keeping Kuksiuk locked inside his deafness. The fear of losing him completely to his hearing impairment made the Inuksuit program-support teacher work diligently for a year and a half to secure funding to change the situation. "Right now, Andrew can't tell somebody he's sad or why he's sad. That's a barrier," she said.

Never tiring of writing proposals and seeking funding leads, Smith finally convinced the departments of Health and Education to cover the costs of hiring Keallen for a six-month stint.

Keallen said she has two primary goals to accomplish by June. The first is to run evening classes to teach community members as much sign language as possible. This will help hamlet residents communicate better with the deaf children.

The second goal is to locate two or three people who are excelling in the evening classes and teach them more advanced sign language.

"I'll spend more time instructing them on sign language and deaf culture. They'll be ideal candidates for (classroom support assistants)," said Keallen.

The final objective is to have people from the community fluent in sign language employed at the school. They'll work closely with Kuksiuk and Alookie and ensure they receive the best education.

Alookie's father, Harry, said he is pleased Keallen will be around for six months.

"Liz will definitely help Angie," Harry said. "It became evident there really needs to be a teacher in the community who can assist parents and deaf children."

Harry said sign language is used fluently in their home, but that outside of the family house there is little time to teach friends and relatives to communicate with Angie. That stress was lifted off his shoulders when Keallen arrived.

"Liz will definitely make a difference in Angie's life."