KIVALLIQ - Susan Aglukark's impressive list of credentials grew even more this past month when she was named a scholar in residence at the University of Alberta.

The Kivalliq's own Susan Aglukark was named a scholar in residence at the University of Alberta this past month. - photo courtesy of Susan Aglukark

The appointment took effect on July 1.

Aglukark, originally from Arviat, also holds an honourary law degree from the university.

The international recording star said she was caught totally off guard by her latest honour.

She said she had met chancellor Eric Newell when she received her honourary law degree, and he asked her if she'd pop in for a visit during her next trip to Edmonton.

"I had no idea this was coming because to be honest, I'm not very academically inclined," said Aglukark.

"I conduct research to satisfy my own curiosity and I am working on a couple of different papers, but that's about it.

"They told me what largely brought them to this point was the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation I'm working with.

"I'm one of the founding board members and we're developing a couple of campaigns, so that's what got them interested in getting me involved with the university."

Aglukark said post-secondary education is extremely important for aboriginal youth, but it's just as important to get them into any kind of learning environment.

She said with so much great talent in the North and aboriginal communities across Canada, there needs to be a focus on getting as many people as possible into learning environments.

"Once they're in whatever environment they decide upon, we have to focus on keeping them involved until they complete their program.

"That will be one of the main goals in my work with them."

Aglukark said during the early stages of her career from 1995-97, she struggled with her confidence and sense of belonging in the arts world.

During the next few years, she realized she was the only person holding her back.

"I started to address the issues that seemed to be holding me back and a lot of it was as simple as a lack of confidence, which came from not having been nurtured in my career of choice.

"A little further beyond that, I suppose, was not nurturing my own desire to engage in my chosen career.

"We do well in keeping our kids in junior high and for the most part, high school, but we need to start nurturing at an early age the will to engage in our lives beyond high school and even post-secondary education.

"I was afraid of my own great gift and career, so I had to confront that fear and make it mine, and that's what I hope to work on through the university."

Aglukark said the more attention paid to successful aboriginals, the more young aboriginals believe they can obtain their goals.

She said hearing about successful people in your culture - be that in their community, nationally or internationally - removes the it-can't-be-done excuse.

"Being from a small town is not what keeps us from doing what we want to do.

"When you mention successful people from Nunavut, we all grew up in small towns and know what it's like to be isolated, yet we were able to see beyond boundaries that don't really exist.

"You can't hide behind the small-town excuse because we're living examples of setting and accomplishing goals, no matter where you come from or who you are.

"That goes a long way in encouraging young people to continue on who maybe have even more potential than we do."

Aglukark would like to bring her music into the university, and will be attending meetings there this week to explore ideas.

"One of those meetings will be with the arts faculty and we're hoping to work out some sort of connection between the arts and native studies faculties.

"Aboriginal people in general - First Nations, Inuit and Metis - are very responsive to the arts.

"If we can work something out to use between the two faculties - dancing, songwriting or drawing - we should use it to our advantage."

Away from the university, Aglukark is busy working on a compilation CD.

She said she's also recording new material she hopes to use in a non-conventional theatrical production to go with the disk.

"I envision it as a combination of different art forms on stage, but we're still fleshing out its composition.

"I have a lot of songs from over the years I want to see recorded, so I'm probably going to draw from those.

"So I'm spending most of my time working with my producer, Chad Irschick.

"I'm also hoping one of my first projects with our foundation will take me to Nunavut in the spring of 2009 and if so, I'll certainly try to make sure the trip includes Arviat and Rankin Inlet."