REPULSE BAY - Michael Putulik returned home to a hero's welcome in Repulse Bay this past week after taking part in the Olympic Torch Relay.

Michael Putulik, centre, brings the torch he carried in the Olympic Torch Relay for a visit with students at Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay this past week. - photo courtesy of Michael Putulik

One aboriginal person from each province and territory were selected to take part in the event.

Putulik, 23, acted as both a torchbearer and a flame attendant during the relay.

He said the flame attendant takes care of the mother flame, which is the actual Olympic flame that came to Canada from Greece for the 2010 Games.

"I was honoured to be chosen from Nunavut," said Putulik.

"When they told me I was going to be a flame attendant, that just blew me away.

"Being given that honour made me feel so proud."

Putulik said the flame attendants made sure the Olympic flame never went out.

He said they ran alongside the torchbearers to ensure their flames always burned nice and bright.

"It was also our job to talk to the runners and keep them calm while they carried the torch.

"You want them to relax and enjoy the moment.

"Carrying an Olympic torch is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you want to do your best to help make sure it's something they never forget."

Putulik started the relay in Victoria, B.C., and accompanied the torch across Canada to New Brunswick.

He said the aboriginal representatives took shifts caring for the flame and performing their other duties.

"After New Brunswick, I was scheduled to return to Ontario and take part in the next stage of the relay from Dec. 16 until Jan. 7, but I decided to cancel my participation in that segment.

"I want to spend the holidays here in Repulse with my family because that's the most important thing in the world to me.

"Even though getting the opportunity to take part in the Olympic Torch Relay only comes along once in a lifetime, family is more important.

"That's why I decided to bow out of the next part to spend Christmas and new year's with my family."

Putulik said being involved with the Olympic Torch Relay was an absolutely incredible experience.

He said he had an amazing time and the event made him feel very proud to be Inuk, aboriginal and Canadian all rolled up into one.

"I am proud to be Inuk, but I felt very proud to be not just Inuk, but a Canadian aboriginal.

"I saw so much while travelling across the North, out west and down south in Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and New Brunswick in the Olympic Torch Relay.

"The experience really showed me that no matter where we're from, where we work or who we are, we're all the same.

"And it really doesn't matter what we want to do, or the things we want to have – it's good to see with your own eyes how much we share and how alike we all really are."

Putulik said it's hard to put into words how he felt while carrying the torch.

He said he was thinking about many different things while carrying the torch, but one emotion stood out above all the rest – pride!

"I was just so very, very proud to be Canadian.

"When I first grabbed the torch to run, my heart just started pounding and filled up with happiness.

"I was so proud to be running with the torch as me, Michael – running on behalf of all Inuit and aboriginal people in Canada and around the world.

"How do you describe a feeling like that?"

Putulik got to keep the torch he carried in his segment of the run, and feels the same rush of pride every time he looks at it.

A student support assistant at Tusarvik School, he took the torch to show his students this past week.

He said the students were excited, happy and proud to be with the torch.

"The younger students in kindergarten to Grade 6 weren't too sure what the torch was all about when I talked to them about it just before leaving for Victoria.

"But many of them saw me on TV, and when I showed them the torch when I returned home to Repulse they were in awe of it.

"They understand what the torch and the Olympics are all about now."

Putulik was met at the airport by his family and many members of the community when he returned to Repulse this past week.

He said he was touched by how many people in the community were so proud of what he accomplished.

"Nobody here ever expected to have someone from their own community actually take part in the Olympic Torch Relay.

"Many Nunavummiut heard about this and they were all so happy for me.

"All I can say is it all made me so feel so proud."