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IGLULIK - Elizabeth Angutiqjuaq did a little dance right there in her kitchen in Iglulik when she found out she had won third place in the Titiraliritti! Literary Prize contest earlier this month.

"When somebody called her about it she got so surprised she danced a bit," said Angutiqjuaq's daughter Meeka Nangmalik, interpreting for Angutiqjuaq who was laughing in the background.

Elizabeth Angutiqjuaq won third place in the for her story about growing up west of Iglulik - photo courtesy of Meeka Nangmalik

"She thought that she would never win, but when she found out she was really proud and surprised."

The Titiraliritti! Literary Prize has been held since 2002 in an effort to increase the number of stories written in Inuktitut for adults. Offered through the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, the contest is open to all Nunavummiut and stories must be submitted in either Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun.

"The whole intent is that we want to get more Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun stories written down," said Napatchie Kolola with CLEY.

Brian Koonoo from Pond Inlet won first prize, and $5,000, for his story Sikujjijut and Veronique Nirlungayuk from Rankin Inlet won second prize, and $3,000, for her story Qilaujjarniq Quviagijara.

Angutiqjuaq won third place for her story called Atulauqtara Tavva, which is about growing up west of Iglulik during times of hardship and starvation.

Angutiqjuaq said she had heard about the literary contest last year and decided she would write a story about her childhood. This was the first time she had written a story, and was certainly the first time that she had ever won a writing contest.

"She had never written anything [before]," Nangmalik said. "Last time when she heard about it, she started writing. She never won anything for writing."

Last year, CLEY published a book called Titiraliritti, which was made up of 22 stories from past winners of the contest.

Kolola said she wasn't sure if a book would be published again this year, but she said each winner's story would be available on CLEY's website. The stories are only available in the language they were written in and are not translated into English.

"It is on our website in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun only, so they're not translated," Kolola said.

Angutiqjuaq won $1,000 for her story and said she doesn’t know what she is going to spend it on yet.

"She doesn’t have a clue," Nangmalik said. "She’s just surprised right now."