Doing the cadet program proud
Dorothy Tootoo among inaugural Polar Medal winners
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
RANKIN INLET/WHITEHORSE
Although they may not have been there in person, many Rankin Inlet youth had reason to smile when Rankin cadet leader 2nd Lieut. Dorothy Tootoo accepted the inaugural Polar Medal in Whitehorse, Yukon, this past month.
Historian Louie Kamookak of Gjoa Haven and cadet leader 2nd Lieut. Dorothy Tootoo of Rankin Inlet, right, display their inaugural Polar Medals in Whitehorse, Yukon, this past month. - photo courtesy of Dorothy Tootoo |
The Polar Medal celebrates Canada's Northern heritage and recognizes those who render extraordinary services in the polar regions and Canada's North.
Administered by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, the Polar Medal is part of the Canadian Honours System and replaces the Governor General's Northern Medal created in 2005.
Tagak Curley and Tootoo are the only two from the Kivalliq to have been awarded one of the two prestigious medals.
Tootoo said she still doesn't know who nominated her for the award.
She said as she understands it, the selection committee was looking for someone who has positively impacted the lives of others in the North, the environment, a community, the territory or Canada as a whole.
"I was told I was selected because I had been an officer sustaining the cadet program in Rankin Inlet and for having demonstrated my unwavering commitment to the cadet program," said Tootoo.
"They also noted the fact I have enlisted elders from the community to establish the mentoring program.
"They really liked that because there's not really another cadet corps that incorporates elders.
"Their main role in our corps is trying to always talk to the kids in Inuktitut to ... help keep our language alive."
Tootoo said the approach is effective because talking to an elder is "safe" for the youth, and they don't have to worry about being teased for making mistakes.
She said the safe environment makes learning or practising Inuktitut fun for the cadets.
"Our elders also act as my reviewing officer during our parade night.
"They'll come along and inspect the cadets, and they might mention to one or two that their hair is getting a little long and may need to be cut.
"When Mrs. (Tutalik) Tudlik was with us, she was notorious for telling the cadets their uniforms may need to be washed and pressed."
Tootoo first became involved with the Rankin cadet program in 2005.
The corps was being led at that time by Tom Rogers and the husband-and-wife team of Tim Hinds and Michelle Ashby, but the corps soon found itself without a female instructor when Ashby accepted the job of Nunavut's coroner.
Tootoo, 60, became the corps commander in 2007, but not before she had to pass a physically gruelling camp to earn her bars.
She said she started as a civilian instructor with the corps and accepted the physical challenge so she could become a cadet instructor cadre.
"I was 50 years old when I went to boot camp and all I could think was, 'You buggers,'" said Tootoo with a laugh.
"That's still amazing to me, and so is the fact it was 10 years ago when I did it."
Tootoo travelled to Whitehorse, Yukon, with Rankin corps elder Louisa (Ivasaaq) Issaluk to accept her Polar Medal.
Nunavut Commissioner Nellie Kusugak was also present for the ceremony.
Tootoo said she is as proud as can be because it took a group of people, who may not have had a lot of experience in the military, to come together as a team to make the Rankin cadet program work.
She said the corps has done so well during the years thanks to the commitment of all the people who show up week after week.
"These people all bought into the importance of the healthiness of the youth in our community.
"Ben Porter really ran our firing range for the longest time, and he is so important to our land skills, bivouac, map and compass training.
"Because of all these contributions, I felt very humbled when they presented me with my medal.
"All I could think about was there has to be other people out there who worked just as hard, if not harder, than I did."
Tootoo said the absolute truth of the matter is she almost feels embarrassed to have received the medal.
She said she passionately puts her time into the program for local kids and Nunavut as a whole.
"There's other people who do so much more, and that includes additional training.
"I don't go for training anymore because the program's not getting anymore out of me, physically, at my age, and I don't want to have anyone yelling in my face again the way they did at boot camp 10 years ago, thank you very much.
"Our kids benefit from the cadet program in so many different ways.
"I'm so proud of the kids who came through our program, and humbled to be recognized for any contribution I may have made, but it takes an entire community for it to be successful, so I hope people keep helping with the program to maintain that success."
