Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 07, 2008

PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG - A young woman from Pangnirtung has been named one of Canada's National Aboriginal Role Models for 2008-2009.

Jenna Kilabuk, a Grade 11 student at Attagoyuk school, was honoured at an awards ceremony by Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean on June 21 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

"It was awesome. I got to meet some really awesome people," Kilabuk said, shortly after returning to her home hamlet. "We got to meet the Governor General. I really can't believe it, it just feels so good."

Every year the National Aboriginal Health Foundation (NAHO) awards the title to 12 aboriginal youth from across the country.

Kilabuk, who was nominated for the title by a younger student at her school, was chosen in part for her work coaching other students in sports.

An avid badminton and volleyball player, Kilabuk will travel to the North American Indigenous Games to compete next month.

Being a role model is about being well-rounded in other areas as well, according to Karin Kettler, leader of the Lead Your Way! role model program.

The youth are chosen by a panel of past recipients on the basis of a number of categories.

"They are all very well-rounded in their activities, not just focused on sports or focused on academics," Kettler said.

Besides her involvement with sports and coaching, Kilabuk also strives to apply the values of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in her day-to-day life and keep her Inuktitut language skills strong, Kettler added.

"My language and culture, well, my grandparents have always taught me about those things, because I've spent a lot of time with them," Kilabuk said.

Over the next year, she will travel to at least three communities to speak with other young people.

"I'm a pretty happy person, so I just want to tell people to strive to be healthy, happy and active. So many people are doing drugs and alcohol, so I'd like to talk to them about that too," she said.

"We've always tried to encourage her to try different activities and that she has a strong cultural background," said Kilabuk's mom, Rosie. "She's the type that loves life, to play sports, and we try to support her in any way we can."

Rosie said she cried when she got the call that her daughter had been chosen as one of this year's role models.

"When she was two years old, she got meningitis and we didn't even know if she would live or not, but she pulled through and became a very able human being," her mom added.