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KANGIQTUGAAPIK/CLYDE RIVER - Irene Sanguya made an unexpected find while touring a major museum in the south this fall.

During a visit to the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que., the Clyde River resident came across two prints by artists she knows very well.

Irene Sanguya of Clyde River stands next to a print made by her grandfather, which she discovered at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que. - photo courtesy of Inuit Heritage Trust

"The best part was seeing my grandfather's prints that he had made in 1983, and also my uncle's. It was a surprise. I had a bit of expectation of seeing prints from Clyde River, but not my grandfather or my uncle's!" she said with a laugh.

"My grandfather's was really nice, it was of a woman cleaning a sealskin."

Sanguya made the trek to Canada's capital with a group of other Nunavummiut managers of museums, cultural and visitor centres and libraries.

The 10-day trip was part of a program organized by Inuit Heritage Trust.

Sanguya is the community librarian for Ilisaqsivik Family Resource Centre.

Upon the opening of Clyde River's new heritage centre, she will step into the role of its manager.

"I hope it will be popular, even more popular than books, because it will be all about our culture and heritage," she said.

The skills she learned down south will help her to catalogue and care for artifacts in her new job, she said.

"We learned how to catalogue artifacts and how to take care of them when they are on display or in storage," she said.

"It was a bit hard because it wasn't the same as working with books."

Sanguya was born in Clyde River, "in the same place where I work, because it was a health centre before."

After graduating from the local school, she worked was a substitute teacher for some time.

She began looking for another job, and started working at the library about five years ago.

When she's not working, one of her favourite activities is sewing, she said.

"I usually go to the sewing group at Ilisaqsivik, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays," she said.

Her current project is a pair of snowpants.