KUGLUKTUK/COPPERMINE
At the beginning of a storm that lingered over the Kitikmeot for three days in early January, a young woman gave birth to a girl named Gracie.

Krista Niptanatiak, 16, gave birth to baby Gracie all by herself around noon Jan. 7 as a storm raged over Kugluktuk. - photo courtesy of Krista Niptanatiak

In the early morning hours, with the storm fast overtaking the region, Krista Niptanatiak, aged 16, woke up feeling the first pains of labour. She eventually went over to Kugluktuk's health centre.

"But they were closing down," she said.

She was sent home.

"I went back home around noon and lay down for a while. A few minutes later I had to go to the bathroom. I thought I had to go to the bathroom."

Krista says at first she didn't realize the pressure she felt was from the baby coming.

"Then I realized ..."

Angele Kuliktana, the soon-to-be paternal grandmother, had also gone to her room.

"I was going to start sewing," said Kuliktana.

Krista called out for help and Kuliktana ran to the bathroom.

"The baby was already born," said the first-time grandmother. "It happened so fast. She did it herself."

Kuliktana says she felt like she was dreaming.

"I've never seen anything like it before. When I saw her face ... her face ... I saw that look of 'Help me,' a scared look. I felt really helpless. All my teachings went out the window. She did it herself. We were both in shock."

Krista doesn't remember any pain.

Neither woman is certain how long it took RCMP and a health centre worker to come after they were called.

"It took 20 minutes, maybe more. I'm not sure how long it took. In that situation, even five minutes is really, really long," said Kuliktana.

Krista's mother, Katie, also a first-time grandmother, says, "George came by truck and said, 'An emergency is going on at Angele's.' When I got there Gracie was already born."

Krista and baby were transported to the health centre, where the umbilical cord was cut.

"At first, the nurse spoke to a doctor in Yellowknife. They thought she might need to go out," said Katie.

But both new mom and baby were perfectly fine and, while she was given the option, Krista decided to stay home.

"Such a blessing," said Kuliktana. "Everything was really good. Baby was good. Mom was good.

"We are so blessed."

Krista will be returning to school in a few weeks, as she plans on completing her Grade 12 high school education.

She says her family is very supportive.

Later, Kuliktana added a twist to the unusual birthing story, with the story of her own birth.

"Gracie was born two days before my birthday, on Jan. 7.

I was born in a plane, on Willy Laserich's single Otter on Jan. 9, 1965. I was the first baby born in the North in a plane. The late Mr. Sperry mentioned my being born in his book Igloo Dwellers Were My Church.

"So it was awesome how Krista gave birth in our home ... all by herself."

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