SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
She's humble about it but 14-year-old Sarah Sagiaktuk's writing and drawing skills have earned her respect and a iPad Mini prize.

Sarah Sagiaktuk won an iPad Mini for her drawing and essay about Inuit culture. She took part in the "Your Story, Your Voice" contest hosted by the Representative for Child and Youth. - photo courtesy of Petanie Pitsiulak

"I had to write a story and draw a picture of our Inuit culture," said the Grade 9 student, who submitted her work to the "Your Story, Your Voice" contest.

The Representative for Child and Youth runs the contest, which celebrates National Child Day. The theme was "the right to your culture," as addressed throughout the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the

Child.

Sagiaktuk, born and raised in Kimmirut, wrote about being on the land, dogsledding, learning about living in iglus, hunting and Inuit culture.

"My drawing was about this guy who's putting up fish on a string, and there's a raven, the sun's out and there's an iglu beside the fish and a dog near the man," she said.

Her teacher helped her with some ideas and she used reference drawings for inspiration.

Sagiaktuk won the contest in the category for Grade 8 to Grade 12 students.

"I was pretty surprised," she said, adding that she didn't expect to win.

Although she didn't think much of her chances beforehand, Sagiaktuk said winning the contest has made her want to do more writing and drawing in the future.

The Representative for Child and Youth office said in its contest description that every child has a right to have his or her voice heard and has a story worth sharing.

"We also recognize the value the voices of children and youth can bring to Nunavut," the description stated.

Nunavut's legislative assembly created the Representative for Child and Youth department in 2013 to advocate for the rights and interests of children in the territory.

The organization's Iqaluit office opened last fall.

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