TALOYOAK/SPENCE BAY
Kevin Eetoolook's enthusiasm for his work as Netsilik Ilihakvik's language specialist and kindergarten teacher is engaging and there's a very good reason.

As a language specialist, Eetoolook gets to teach in Inuktitut all day long, whether with junior high school students in the mor

"I always had a passion for teaching," he said. "Even before I graduated school."

Principal Gina Pizzo remembers Eetoolook from way back.

"I've known Kevin since he was a little boy when I first came to Taloyoak in 1985," she said. "He was one of the first kids to visit me and had a hundred questions. I teased him and asked him if he was a cop because he asked me so many questions."

Pizzo says she taught him herself a few years later.

"He was a model student and eventually went to Sir John (Franklin) High School in Yellowknife for secondary education, eventually graduating with his Grade 12. After a few different work and education experiences after high school he returned to Taloyoak. "

Eetoolook applied for a student support assistant position that came up at the school

"I was lucky enough to be hired. And since then I've been working with Netsilik school," he said.

Pizzo has been supportive. "Since that time, I have hired him as school community counsellor and now in his present position, focusing on Inuktitut language and culture."

As a language specialist, Eetoolook gets to teach in Inuktitut all day long, whether with junior high school students in the morning or in the afternoons with his class of 34 kindergarten students.

He explains the youngest students have received Inuktitut instruction at a preschool level, before they arrive to his classroom.

"Once they enter kindergarten it's 100 per cent in Inuktitut, with the exception of an English language course," Eetoolook said.

By the time the students reach junior high there is a tendency for them to speak more in English, but his classes with them are entirely in Inuktitut.

It becomes helpful to incorporate themes, such as the one last month which involved seals. This month the theme is Northern birds. The classes are hands on, learning traditional skills and the specific language to go with them.

"We do have to keep encouraging our students to keep speaking Inuktitut, whether it's in the school or at home or the community. Every day we encourage the students to use Inuktitut, to engage in conversations in Inuktitut. They do use English quite a bit more than Inuktitut as they get older," Eetoolook said.

The favourite part of his day is the time spent with the kindergarten students, which he also shares with elder Arnaoyok Alookee

"What I love best is coming to school in the afternoon. I'll be with them in the afternoon. You never know what kind of day you're going to have but when you're with the kindergarten everything just seems to fall into place," Eetoolook said.

"They seem to brighten my spirits."

Alookee was hired about two years ago for the kindergarten class.

"We've been able to teach the students accurately in Inuktitut, having an elder with us full time," Eetoolook said.

He would like to go back to school for a certificate or diploma, but there's a problem: He doesn't want to stop working because he loves it too much. Inuktitut was spoken in his home while he was growing up and he encourages all parents to continue doing so as well.

"Regardless of whether the kids are in kindergarten or Grade 12, continue to use Inuktitut," he says. "Not only in the school. If you're not surrounded by Inuktitut then you can't learn it, obviously."

He says the community is doing quite well keeping the language strong.

"We use our Inuktitut names in the school, I hear a lot of the kindergartners acknowledging me in Inuktitut when I'm out of the school. Parents are coming up to me and telling me they're learning Inuktitut vocabulary from their children.

"Inuktitut is visible here in Taloyoak."

Pizzo likes what he contributes to the school.

"He was a success story of his generation and I am proud to have him as a staff member and to call him my friend," she said.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.