TALOYOAK/SPENCE BAY
After jobs in stores, a pig farm and a daycare, George Hill ultimately fulfilled the call of his high school career aptitude test and his destiny - teaching.

Teachers George Hill, left, and Rohan Hollingsworth lay a wreath on behalf of the staff at Netsilik Ilihakvik's Remembrance Day Ceremony, organized by Hill. - photo courtesy of Gina Pizzo

This year marks 10 years in Taloyoak and 26 in the profession. He and his wife moved to the community in July, 2005. His first teaching job was with Cross Lake First Nation in northern Manitoba.

"I'd always wanted to work with kids," he said. "Older kids, preferably, junior high and senior high."

Hill credits the community, which he says is filled with "very nice people, very friendly, very helpful" and Netsilik Ilihakvik principal Gina Pizzo, with his remaining in Taloyoak.

"Gina is a very good administrator. She's allowed me a certain amount of freedom in doing things that I've tried doing with the kids. Going out seal hunting with the kids, going out caribou hunting, work at making traditional tools with the students."

Going out on the land allows Hill to get to know the students outside the classroom and the students get to know more about him. The experience outside the classroom fosters a closer relationship of trust and camaraderie, of common humanity. Those times also foster a stronger sense of self in the students.

"It's an opportunity where these kids become the teacher. Because now they've got this guy from the south that doesn't know anything, basically. The cultural things, how they do certain things. They are able to show me how to do things and they get to explain how to do things.

"It's important because at times they don't see what they are capable of doing is important and worthwhile. When they get the opportunity to show off what they are able to do, it gives them a boost of esteem. It makes them feel important and better about themselves."

He also says there are things that happen out on the land that they all can laugh about for "days and weeks, and months, sometimes years." He tells the story of the time he sank knee-deep into clay, lost a boot and struggled to remove himself.

"It usually tends to be things that I've done. I sat there howling, too. It was just so comical, a grown man crawling across the tundra one boot on, one boot off. The kids are digging the boot out. It's a good thing because they get to laugh at me and they see that I'm not going to get all upset."

Hill generally teaches social studies to grades 8 to 12, with a Grade 9 homeroom. This year he's also teaching the Aulajaaqtut program to grades 8 to 12. Aulajaaqtut is dedicated to Inuit values, setting personal goals related to values, developing and nurturing healthy relationships and recognizing the issues related to overall personal wellness.

"There are life skills involved in the program, there's career planning, cultural activities, history of land claims ... It's a real cross-section of a lot of things."

Hill describes his second greatest joy.

"It's really nice to see them progressing through the years. I've been here long enough that I've been able to see some of the students that I had in my very first class graduate. They graduated a few years ago.

"That was really satisfying. It's just special."

For some, graduation comes with more of a struggle. But Hill tells of several examples of students who return after a couple of years, sparked with a renewed sense of wanting to complete this unfinished business.

"They're just like everybody else - different kids have a different pace. Everyone progresses at their own rate. They all have their talents. They will reach that goal."

Of late, he's had people say they hope he'll be around when their child graduates. His answer? At 64, he's not sure how many years he has left.

"We all laugh. I hope to be. As long as my health and everything holds, I plan on being here two or three years more, at least."

In the meantime, next week is going to get busy around Netsilik Ilihakvik.

"We'll start the Christmas concert stuff, start the practicing. The classes are all getting their little skits, dances, songs together.

"Standing room only."

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