Stephanie McDonald
Northern News Services
Monday, July 9, 2007

IQALUIT - To find a more generous and caring 18-year-old than Joanasie Pilluktuaq would be a difficult task.

At the age of 12, Pilluktuaq started selling newspapers for Nunavut News/North and was the top seller for the five years he did it.

Joanasie Pilluktuaq sold newspapers for five years before getting a job at Northmart. After finishing high school, Pilluktuaq hopes to become a chef. - Stephanie McDonald/NNSL photo

"There is no secret," Pilluktuaq said.

Despite this claim, he did reveal that every two weeks he would go to the same place, but different places in between.

Pilluktuaq still returns to the Nunavut News/North office when he can to help distribute and collect the papers from the sellers.

In September 2006 he started stocking shelves at Northmart.

He works just under 24 hours a week during the school year and 36 in the summer.

Every month, Pilluktuaq shares his paycheque with his five younger siblings and his parents.

"I give $10 to each of my brothers," Pilluktuaq said. He also gives a portion of his earnings to his parents to go towards the family food bill.

It’s a help that his parents are no doubt thankful for when feeding six hungry teens between the ages of 11 and 18 and a 21-year-old daughter.

"I like to make them happy," Pilluktuaq said in way of explanation. "They’re my family and I care about them."

After the money has been shared, there is still some left for Pilluktuaq, who spends his hard-earned cash on entertainment for himself.

"I like to play video games and be with my brothers," he said.

Pilluktuaq has only one course left to take before he graduates from high school.

"I want to go down south and go to culinary school," he said.

Someday, Pilluktuaq hopes to be a junior chef and eventually own his own restaurant in Iqaluit.

It’s hard to doubt that his dream won’t come true, what with his quiet nature, generosity, and determined work ethic.