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IGLULIK - Somewhere in Iglulik, an elder is enjoying a hot cup of tea thanks to the efforts of a group of students from the community’s Ataguttaaluk high school.

Students in Iglulik spent the day at a nearby lake carving out blocks of ice to bring to local elders so they could have fresh water to make their tea. - photo courtesy of Maren Vsetula

On Nov. 5 and 6, six youth and two adults ventured out on their snowmobiles to a nearby lake. There, they cut out blocks of ice and delivered them to the homes of 14 elders in the community so that they would have unchlorinated water to make their tea.

Joshua Alorut, 17, was one of the students who volunteered to help out.

“(Our principal) wanted to go get some ice for elders that have no help,” he said. “The elders without snowmobiles, we decided to help them by giving them fresh ice.”

Alorut said he decided to help get the ice because he remembered how he used to help elders when he was younger.

“I enjoy it because I was in an outpost camp before,” he said. “I like to do anything with hunting and helping others.”

The elders were thankful for the fresh ice, Alorut added, and knowing they were appreciative made him happy.

“It feels very good,” he said. “I’m always happy helping elders. I never like to get to be lazy to help elders. I never get lazy on them.”

Principal Vincent Pickett came up with idea as a project to do with some of the students. He advertised with the local radio, asking elders to phone in if they wanted the ice delivered to their door.

“We talked about where elders don’t like the chlorinated water, a number of students would cut ice out of the lake and bring it back to the elders with the adults,” he said.

Pickett said the students at the school would also be working with elders two days a week as part of a land program.

As for Alorut, he’s hoping the group continues providing the service to the elders in the future.