KANGIQTUGAAPIK/CLYDE RIVER - For the second year in a row, counsellors from across the territory came together for training workshops to update their skills and learn others they can use to help individuals in their communities.

Participants who took part in the Ilisaqsivik Society's counsellor training workshop listen to others share their stories from Sept. 30 to Oct. 9 in Clyde River. From left standing are participants Meeka Paniloo, Aisa Piungituq, Arnaq Etuangat, Leah Kalluk and David Kalluk. From left sitting are Raygilee Piungnituq, Rosie Aulaqiaq, David Irngaut and Peter Paneak. - photo courtesy of Ilisaqsivik Society

"I felt like I grew so much from learning from this training and I was able to talk my truth and live the truth," said participant Leah Kalluk from Arctic Bay, speaking in Inuktitut to Geela Tigullaraq.

The training, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 9, was sponsored by the Ilisaqsivik Society. Facilitators came from Life Works Counselling Training Service Inc. from Alberta, as well as two elders from the Clyde River Elders Committee, who also delivered programming. The workshop was offered solely in Inuktitut.

The workshops were attended by counsellors who already work in the field, said the society's executive director Jakob Gearheard. He said these counsellors now have the skills to facilitate healing workshops on issues such as trauma, addictions and suicide prevention.

Kalluk said when she thought she knew a lot of counselling, but this workshop opened her eyes to many things she did not know.

When she first began counselling others, she said all the things discussed seemed to affect her.

"I had to heal myself first in order to help others," she said.

She said she was able to do this by connecting with herself and her family. While she used to be bothered by seeing her children in pain she said she now accepts that it is alright for them to talk to someone else about their issues.

Raygilee Piungnituq from Clyde River said she learned how to continue her work as a counsellor at a physical, spiritual and emotional level.

"It is about learning to be accepting," said Piungnituq.

At a spiritual level, she said she learned how to cleanse herself and relax using various tools including meditation. At a physical level, she said participants were taught how to assess their clients through their body language. A client who is hunched over or speaks with their face down could be depressed or unhappy, she said.

Other participants included David Irngaut from Iglulik, Jayko Peterloosie from Pond Inlet, Arnaq Etuangat from Pangnirtung and Rosie Aulaqiaq from Qikiqtarjuaq. All participants spent a day out on the land near the end of the workshop.

Hall Beach's Ruthie Qaunaq gained a new appreciation for one-on-one counselling.

"If you need to cry you can cry," she said.

Qaunaq said she was trying to gain more skills she could use with clients on a one-on-one basis as some people feel more comfortable interacting that way.

While the workshop may be finished, Kalluk said she was going back to Arctic Bay with the intention of continuing counselling. She said she hopes to get her own office and incorporate Inuit traditional knowledge into her work.

"I want to work with people to help them come up with solutions to their problems," she said.

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