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IQALUIT - "I think we have to thank our ancestors, too, for surviving," said Annie Nattaq through an interpreter as she lit the qulliq at Nunavut Arctic College's convocation in Iqaluit.

"Now we can be thankful for these ceremonies… I'm very pleased that the students are learning a lot of important things and I congratulate the graduating students."

Kristin Dialla, left, and Annie Karpik of Pangnirtung share a laugh before their graduation ceremony at Nunavut Arctic College's Nunatta Campus in Iqaluit. Both young women completed the certificate program in hairstyling. - Carolyn Sloan/NNSL photo

A room full of family and friends beamed with pride, cameras at the ready, to mark a major milestone in the lives of 30 or so students who graduated from the college's programs in Iqaluit on April 23.

"You're going to help enhance the job market," Paul Kaludjak, president of Nunavut Tunngavik, told the graduates. "I want to congratulate the students for their commitment."

"In our small communities … whatever an individual achieves immediately enriches their families and it enriches their communities," said Daniel Vandermuelen, president of the college, adding the school graduates about 200 Nunavummiut every year.

Valedictorian Rachel Ootoova of Pond Inlet, who completed her studies in interpretation and translation, remembered what it was like to hear she had been selected for her program.

"How exhilarating it was to hear those words," she said in her speech.

Described as a role model for young and old alike, Ootoova, who worked for years as a freelance interpreter, decided to go back to school after watching her own children graduate.

"We have achieved something," she told the audience. "There may have been difficulties, but without the support of a family, lots of loved ones – they are part of our achievements."

While not graduating until next year, Ootoova's sister-in-law, Christine Ootoova, was recognized as the recipient of the Nunavut News/North travel scholarship to participate in the annual student exchange to Paris, France, where she will continue to work on her interpreting skills.

"I'm a little bit nervous about going to Europe for the first time," she said. "But I'm very honoured to go there."

Ootoova said she was proud to be the first student from North Baffin to be presented with the bursary.

"It's a love of the language," she said, explaining her desire to be an interpreter. "I think we should preserve it."

It was Ootoova's grandmother who has inspired her to do what she can to preserve the Inuktitut language, having written an Inuktitut dictionary herself.

Ootoova also credits sister-in-law Rachel, who has generously shared her experience in the field.