Determined mom wins award
Taloyoak teen honoured by Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, March 24, 2014
TALOYOAK/SPENCE BAY
Being a teenager is difficult. Add a three-year-old and a baby into the mix and life gets even more complicated.
Still, 18-year-old Wendy Alookee is determined to be a good mom and an active member of her community in Taloyoak.
Staff members at Netsilik School noticed Alookee's perseverance and nominated her for the Outstanding Young Woman award.
After sorting through dozens of submissions, the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council in Iglulik agreed Alookee was deserving of the honour. Miranda Atatahak of Kugluktuk was also chosen for the award.
Alookee is a member of the Taloyoak Trailblazers, a group tasked with fundraising money for hockey players in the community to go on trips and buy equipment, such as jerseys.
She is also a member of the Northern Lights dancers and she sits on the hamlet youth council.
"It's important to me because in our small community you hear people say it's so boring," said Alookee. "It just helps to keep me going and gives me something to look forward to and organize events so the community can have fun."
Alookee previously sat on the Netsilik School student council and a few years ago she was chosen to represent Taloyoak youth at the Kitikmeot Inuit Association annual general meeting. At the event she spoke of the need for a youth centre in the community.
It continues to be a need, said Alookee.
"I hope to achieve more things for youth to do because all they've got is the gym and the arena. They're allowed to play but we need something more than just hockey and sports.
"Those are really good recreational things to do but we need more activities for small little kids. I know in the city you can take your babies to activities or anything and that's what I would want here."
Taloyoak's daycare shut down a few years ago but a group of residents is having the property fixed up and will reopen it soon.
There are quite a few teenage parents in Taloyoak, said Alookee, and they need somewhere to take their children.
Alookee herself hasn't been able to go to school for the past couple of months because she can't find anyone to watch her boys.
However, she continues to believe in the importance of education and is determined to finish high school. She encourages other young mothers to keep going as well.
"I was in Grade 9 when I got pregnant and I failed that year. In Grade 10 I was pregnant again and I failed that year. I could have been done, I could have been out, but I got pregnant and failed," she recalled.
"Up to this day I'm still trying to keep going and I want (teen mothers) to know just because you've got babies doesn't make you a bad person and it's not a mistake ... Keep going because in the end it's going to be the best for their kids. Never give up."
Alookee was feeling down about having to miss school but said the award put a smile on her face and reminded her to carry on.
"There's always another day," she said, adding she is so thankful to the women who nominated her and to the other special people in her life.
"Without my family and my friends and my community, I wouldn't be me. I wouldn't be motivated enough without them to do these things."
