IQALUIT - For one Inuksuk High School graduate, the past school year was defined by both death and birth.

Aviaja Kunuk, 18, had only begun to learn sewing when her grandmother, Okee Kunuk, died in November.

Aviaja Kunuk and her new son Kenneth. Aviaja recently graduated from Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit, where she attended a program for pregnant students and young mothers. - photo courtesy of Barb Young

In her memory, Aviaja dedicated herself to learning traditional skills, sewing in particular.

"I know she would be happy that I am still trying to do it," Kunuk said.

Kunuk first started learning to sew a year ago, much to her grandmother's surprise and delight.

"I was a hyper child," Kunuk laughed. "She didn't think I would be able to sew."

But Aviaja wasn't able to learn as much from her grandmother as either of them had hoped due to Okee's declining health from cancer.

That September Kunuk started her last year at Inuksuk High School and enrolled in the Suputiit program for pregnant students and young mothers. There she continued learning to sew and also clean sealskin and cook, and listened to visitors from Public Health.

For her school project Kunuk made an amautiik, and a couple of parkas for her common-law husband.

"All the elders said, 'don't waste material.' That's something I've learned," Kunuk said.

Kunuk said Suputiit taught her a lot about how to be a mother, such as when to wean her son Kenneth and how to make her own baby food when the time comes.

Kunuk has applied to Arctic College to take the Office Administration program. It's something she already has experience in.

"I've been working with NTI (Nunavut Tunngavik) for the last three years and I'd really like to work with them in office administration if I do get accepted," Kunuk said.