Inspired to clean communities
Lindsay Evaloajuk returns from Students on Ice thinking green
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, August 17, 2015
QIKIQTARJUAK/BROUGHTON ISLAND
After finishing her whirlwind Students on Ice trip, Lindsay Evaloajuk is taking home a desire to keep Nunavut clean.
Lindsay Evaloajuk, right, talks intently with community members in Pond Inlet during her Students on Ice trip. - Martin Lipman photo |
"My plans are to tell everyone in my community to keep our wonderful climate clean," said 19-year-old Evaloajuk, speaking by phone on one of the cruise's last days.
"I would definitely start cleaning up my community once I go back home. Everywhere in Nunavut should be really clean and I don't like people who litter."
The Qikiqtarjuak youth was part of a group of more than 100 young people from around the world who participated in Students on Ice, a two-week cruise ship expedition from Greenland to Nunavut, with a whole lot of cultural education and workshops along the way.
"Students on Ice is a great experience," said Evaloajuk.
"I would love for everyone in Nunavut to experience this."
She said she learned about global warming, animals, other people and their different cultures.
"I got to socialize with a lot of new people," she said.
Shirley Manh, the participants and logistics manager with Students on Ice, accompanied the youth on the trip and said Evaloajuk was noticeable right away.
"She introduced herself to new friends at every opportunity and was an outgoing young woman," said Manh.
"Within the first few days, she demonstrated a great talent for throatsinging and started mash-ups of throatsinging and beat-boxing with another student from Iqaluit."
She said Evaloajuk exudes confidence.
"She's not afraid to speak out, speak her mind and to speak loud," said Manh. "She is a bright girl and I hope she continues to sing, perform and take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way."
For Evaloajuk, exactly what the future holds is still up in the air.
"I would like to become a journalist, or a lawyer or a choreographer," she said.
"I want to be so many things. I really can't decide right now, but hopefully when I am older I can directly answer that question."
For now, she just plans to help keep her community clean.
