Teacher lives in memories
Sandra Ipana's legacy continues at East Three School
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, October 20, 2016
INUVIK
Educators applauded their late peer Sandra Ipana for her commitment to culture and the children of Inuvik at a celebration of life on Oct. 12. Ipana passed away as a result of liver cancer on July 30, 2016.
Denise McDonald, currently taking a break from the position of superintendent of the Beaufort Delta Education Council, tells the crowd about her experiences with Sandra Ipana on Oct. 12. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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"We wanted to make it a night that we could tell stories and talk about her passion for culture and how she wanted to give everybody a little bit of a sense of her culture," said Lesa Semmler, chair of the Inuvik District Education Authority.
"She passed it through children and any committee or anything she took part in. It was always traditional."
Anyone who knew Ipana knew she loved to laugh and was always kind and patient with her students, Semmler added.
"I always thought, I don't know how she does it," said Semmler.
"Thank you to Sandra for keeping our culture alive."
Educators, friends and people from the crowd, which filled more than half the school's gym, took turns telling stories about Ipana, sharing their experiences of Ipana in their own lives.
The event was a celebration of her life, not a funeral or sad service.
"A lot of (students) have really positive memories," said Principal Deborah Reid. "They remembered the passion she brought to her classroom. She gave 100 per cent plus some."
She kept students on track, she added.
"She was always very happy and enthusiastic and wanted to bring me in to show me the students' progress and the students' learning, how they've grown," Reid said.
"She was really there for the children of Inuvik."
Reid said she wants to post a framed picture of Ipana with a plaque near her kindergarten classroom so her spirit is always there.
Denise McDonald, currently taking a break from her position as superintendent of Beaufort Delta Education Council, said she went to school with Ipana and knew her for many years.
She told a story about a trip to a youth conference in Edmonton with about 20 students, one of whom was one of Ipana's sons. Everyone had gathered for dinner at a Spaghetti Factory restaurant and was waiting to be served, when her son came to McDonald and whispered to her asking if he could pray.
"Of course I said yes, so Friday night in the Spaghetti Factory full of people, full of students from the North, we stood up and he led us in a prayer, thankful for our trip and for our food," recalled McDonald. "I think this is a testament to how Sandra raised her family."
McDonald said her passing leaves a large hole in the school and community.
After speeches, children and community members took turns dancing to drums before a cake was served.
In 2011, Ipana was awarded the national Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in recognition of her contribution to keeping Inuvialuktun alive, in part through an Inuvialuktun immersion kindergarten class at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School.
