Two-year-old follows in footsteps
Youngster mimics her grandfather while watching legislative assembly proceedings on TV
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 19, 2015
UQSUQTUUQ/GJOA HAVEN
While young children the world over may be rocking out with famous singers heard on the radio, Trinity Akoak has something else in mind.
Trinity Akoak is already practicing the fine art of oratory while her grandfather, MLA Tony Akoak, takes care of business in the legislative assembly. Proceedings are broadcast on the family's TV. - photo courtesy of Tony Akoak |
She wants to follow in her grandfather's footsteps.
Her grandfather is Tony Akoak, the MLA for Gjoa Haven. He was elected in 2013 and is in the midst of his first involvement in politics.
Akoak was in Iqaluit for his job and his son, Jonah, who cares for Trinity during the day, turned on the television.
"She was watching me on TV," said Akoak.
As Akoak's family explained it, Trinity was missing her grandfather so much that she ran to the television and kissed him on the screen.
But that wasn't enough for her. She wanted to participate.
The soon-to-be three-year-old set up a podium and, with a microphone in hand, began her own member's statement.
"To my understanding, she was mumbling, not saying actual words."
Trinity did, however, manage to rattle off all the regular members' names.
"Not in a perfect way, but she was naming them."
When Trinity concluded her statement, she said, "Thank you" and took a bow.
Akoak was so impressed he mentioned Trinity in his member's statement Nov. 5.
"I rise today to remind all members, regular members and ministers, who are watching our sitting are not only the news people, not only the elders, not only the teenagers. We've got little young people watching, such as my granddaughter who is two years old," he said.
Akoak was justifiably proud of his little one.
As for Trinity's future possibilities in politics, Akoak laughed and said "She has the voice for it. She's loud. She's very active."
The lesson this young girl has to teach is a reminder for all adults that little ones watch and learn from everything that goes on around them.
