John Thompson
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (June 27/05) - It's no coincidence the graduation of Nunavut's first law class coincided with National Aboriginal Day on Tuesday, June 21.

Akitsiraq students picked the date themselves, knowing the ceremony marked a great step toward Inuit shaping Nunavut's destiny.

"This is our day as aboriginal people," said Premier Paul Okalik. "You made the right choice."

He also commented that watching the 11 graduates struggle through their courses reminded him how tough law school is. Prior to the ceremony, Okalik was Nunavut's only Inuk law graduate.

Governor General Adrienne Clarkson said the Akitsiraq class offers hope of further integrating Inuit traditional knowledge into the Nunavut legal system and righting past injustices.

"Your story speaks of a new vision of Nunavut," she said.

The grads will spend the next year articling with firms before they write their bar exam to become lawyers.