PAULATUK
Lisa Illasiak says it took hard work to become this year's only graduate from Angik School in Paulatuk.

Lisa Illasiak plans to take a year off school after being the only Grade 12 graduate from Paulatuk this year. - NNSL file photo

"It's really important to me because my family, they've been pushing me to go to school every day ever since I was a young kid," she said. "They were hoping I'd get a really good job in the future and then to come back home."

Illasiak is one of about 57 students attending Angik School this year. She's the only student in Grade 12.

She said she hasn't decided on a career just yet, but she has a few ideas, including becoming a biologist, a teacher, a nurse or a professional artist.

Principal Debbie Redden-Cormier said she's also noticed Illasiak's artistic talent, especially when it comes to theatrical makeup and photography. "She has an artistic flare," she said.

Illasiak took biology to make sure she would have the requirements to apply for post-secondary programs in the future.

"There were a lot of interesting things about biology that I never knew," she said. "It kind of got me interested in being a nurse or a biologist."

But, Illasiak said she hasn't ruled out a career as a visual artist.

"Ever since I was younger, I've been drawing and the past few years I've gotten a lot better at quick sketching," she said.

She said she's looked into programs at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, as well as Yukon School of Visual Arts.

First though, Illasiak said she plans on taking some time to consider her future.

"I'm going to take a year off to get a job and save up money so I can go to a good college and help my family back home," she said.

In addition to keeping up her grades this year, Illasiak also helped with a climate change research project.

Eric Lede, a researcher with the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, visited Paulatuk to look at ways people in the community are experiencing and adapting to climate change.

Illasiak helped introduce Lede to potential interview subjects.

"I helped him pick participants who might be interested in doing the interviews," she said. "I gave him names of a different range of people in town, different ages and genders and family living arrangements in the house."

She said helping with the project opened her eyes to how life in the Paulatuk area is changing.

"When people go out on the land, like quite a ways out of town, you could see ground caving in because of the permafrost melting," she said. "That's what I've heard."

While larger graduating classes usually have a ceremony to mark the occasion, Illasiak said she has a simpler plan in mind.

"As long as all my family is there, I'm pretty happy," she said.

Redden-Cormier said the school will host a graduation ceremony for Illasiak on June 14, complete with a decorated gym, speeches and a community feast to follow. She said she expects the entire community will attend. "There will be close to 200 or 300 people in that gym," she said.

llasiak said she's looking forward to her graduation. "As long as all my family is there, I'm pretty happy," she said. Redden-Cormier said she knows the day will be bitter-sweet. "She's very proud to represent Paulatuk," she said. "She's going to be missed."

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