Rae-Edzo (May 08/06) - Tammy Steinwand didn't know much about her culture as a child.

But that changed as she grew older and made a decision to become a teacher.

Now the vice-principal and head of cultural and language programming for Chief Jimmy Bruneau high school in Behchoko, Steinwand learns something new about her culture every day. "By taking students out on the land, I was able to learn with my class," said Steinwand, who is described as a life-long learner by her colleagues.

Steinwand won the Aboriginal Educator's Award earlier this year for her hard work promoting cultural learning inside and outside of class.

President of the Northwest Territories Teachers Association, Amanda Mallon, said Steinwand is a great role model in her community of Behchoko.

"What she learns about her culture she passes on," Mallon said.

"She is a dedicated, hard working, wonderful person."

Teaching seemed a good fit with Steinwand, even early on.

"I remember my grandmother telling me I was like a second mom to my siblings," Steinwand said.

"At Akaitcho Hall, I had very little study time because there was always someone outside my door asking for help with work," she said.

Her motivation was the great feeling that came with having people thank her for her help.

"It really motivated me when they said 'You really explained things well,'" Steinwand said.

And so, knowing the Dogrib language, but very little about the land her people loved, Steinwand made it her goal to learn as much as she could about the Tlicho people.

This included reading and writing in Dogrib, as well as learning traditional names of the land.

She said winning the award was an honour as much as it was a recognition of all the hard work staff and faculty at her school put into the culture and language programs offered at the school.

Steinwand has a teaching certificate and a degree from the University of Saskatchewan.