Jennifer Kadjuk     

I wanted to become a teacher so I took Nunavut Teacher Education Program when they were partners with the University of Regina. I think that teaching would be a way to make sure that students know their Inuit language and Identity. I’ve always studied and research about Inuit language and culture. I’ve wondered about language loss in Nunavut and how we would continue learning. I also had to research about Inuit history as to why things are the way they are here in Nunavut. I had to think of some way to make sure that students are still given opportunity to hear what older generations used to speak in an interesting way. 

I am a Student Community Counsellor. I have been fortunate for the principal to believe in me to teach high school credits called Career and Technology studies; this gives me the opportunity to teach Inuit culture history and language in some aspect of m career as a counsellor. I’ve always used Inuit language and history to make sure people and students understand that history has impact so much of our language and culture as a society. 
I should continue my education in a near future to get my Bachelors of Education so that I can teach Inuit language and culture to my students. I also been fortunate to learn from my grandparents about Inuit culture and some part of our history out on the land. I’ve learnt so much from my late grandparents. I can say that I am very fortunate to learn the things I have learnt from my grandparents and other elder community members. I enjoy talking to older people about Inuit language. 

Susie Evyagotailak

Susie Evyagotailak is a retired educator, Who was born in a canvas tent in a winter camp west of Ulukhaqtuuq and now lives in Kugluktuk, Nunavut.

She’s had total of 31 years of being an educator, Bilingual Language Consultant, Language Advocate. Susie teaches language and culture programs at the Arctic College and at the Hamlet of Kugluktuk Wellness Division. She is a mother of six children, fifteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Inuinnaqtun and culture is her passion as she believe that is the root to who we are, where we come from and where we can go in the future. Susie loves to go camping, and love being out on the land where she get the sense of peace and quiet time to reflect on life. Susie also love creating crafts and sewing for the family.

Ooleepika Ikkidluak

Ms. Ikkidluak has a lengthy life-time body of work as an interpreter/translator that spans over 30 years.  She is a strong advocate of Inuktut and has worked for Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Government of the Northwest Territories.  Ms. Ikkidluak is currently the Cabinet Interpreter/ Translator at the Government of Nunavut and has been in this integral position for close to 20 years. In her role as Cabinet Interpreter/Translator, there are many English terms that need translation into Inuktut, which requires Ms. Ikkidluak to not only understand the English term, but to be creative and to know which root Inuktut term to use so that Cabinet members can clearly understand the context of the discussion "on the fly".

Ms. lkkidluak has demonstrated extraordinary professionalism in dealing with media on almost a daily basis as the Interpreter/Translator for the Government of Nunavut during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her ability to use lnuktut to convey a clear and consistent message of a new infectious disease has been remarkable.