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Certified ready
Seven pass final module to become counsellors in Rankin

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 2, 2015

RANKIN INLET
A group of seven Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre (PKFC) employees completed the final module of the 10-course Training in Biblical Counselling program in Rankin Inlet this past month.

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Michelle Kaludjak (left) proudly displays her certificate with instructor Clara Schnupp after completing her final module in the Training in Biblical Counselling program in Rankin Inlet in November of 2015. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

It took the students 18 months to complete the entire program and become certified counsellors.

The courses were delivered through the Arctic Ministries program.

The seven to complete the 10module program are Noel Kaludjak, Michelle Kaludjak, Kathryn Misheralak, Hannah Benoit, Pierre Koomak, Victoria Noolook and Steven Fredlund.

Noel said damaged emotions need to be healed, and the program teaches participants the proper way to do that.

He said it's important to understand you can't help others until you heal yourself.

"The biggest thing about this course is while you're going through it, you're actually working on yourself," said Noel. "You're learning to deal with the experiences of your own life and heal any past emotional damage.

"It can be very difficult going through the levels when each student is put through a rigorous test of counselling and being counselled by other students.

"Videos are done on the process, which we use to critique ourselves, and it could be quite hard to counsel each other in a group setting in front of cameras."

The program was delivered in Rankin by the husband-and-wife team of Dr. Clair and Clara Schnupp and their assistants.

Noel said the friendship centre paid the course fees for its staff members.

He said successfully completing the program allows graduates to seek employment with any agency dealing with counselling and helping others.

"At the heart of our plan is to be able to help local people - who speak our language - to find employment in any organization that may require their services.

"With that accomplished, people who need help will be able to speak their own language while getting it.

"Inuktitut is my mother tongue and, when I'm speaking Inuktitut, my emotions go a lot deeper than when I'm speaking English.

"I often have a hard time expressing my true emotions in English."

Noel said the collective feeling among the group, when passing the final module, was one of relief in overcoming a big obstacle in their lives.

He said everyone was glad they pulled through the tough spots and completed the program.

"A number of us who graduated came very close to walking out the door at one time or another, but the support and encouragement we received from the group was tremendous.

"It pulled us through some very difficult times."

Since graduating the program, Noel has left his job as the regional co-ordinator for Kivalliq Counselling and Support Services (KC&SS) to accept a counselling position with Rankin's healing facility.

He said job security was the biggest reason for accepting the new position.

"As much as I loved it, the job I had was on a year-to-year contract and I didn't know if I was going to have a job after March 31, 2016.

"I was at KC&SS since 2008, but I have a lot more clients at the healing facility, which means I have the opportunity to help a lot more people here.

"The group of us who completed the program are fundraising now to be able to travel to Winnipeg and receive our diplomas in May of 2016.

"There should be about 200 people there, so it's going to be a big day for us."

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