I have now have finished 3 years in the NTEP. This year will be my fourth (4 th) year and I will be finished in the Fall of 2017. The NTEP program is working with the university of Regina and the university has programs in both English and Inuktitut courses.
I will be getting a diploma and finish as a teacher in a recognized Arctic College and graduate to teach anywhere. I will be able to teach in Nunavut as a professional teacher with degree. For many years I wanted to become a teacher and teach children and by doing that I could change some lives of the children to better themselves. I believe education is the key and also believe children can learn good things.
I am a mother of 3 ages from 10, 6 and 3 years old. My children see me not only as a mother but also a positive role model. This coming Fall they will be coming to the school and that they will enjoy school as they began and learning new things everyday. Children know how important education is and I tell them that going to school and education is very important for their future and the key is to learn best way they know how and if they need help it is available to them and in the future they could go to the Arctic College as they grow older. Education is the key to opportunities and jobs in the future.
I am an Inuk and I know our culture and traditions are very important. Our culture and traditions are in danger, it is different from other cultures. I believe we can use it as we learn it because it is our culture after all we have to practise using them, it is vital to use it and it. Amaujaq said “don’t give up” in getting educated and don’t lose our language. I feel now that I have to do this and teach it to our children, with our culture and tradition.
I am an Inuk, we have to practise using our culture and traditions anyway we can, learn who we are and what we are. If Amaujaq did not strive hard to use our language and did not push, Inuktitut language would not be in schools today. I come from a community where our language is important to use each day, learning in Inuktitut is very important and the Inuktitut curriculum is being taught in smaller communities in schools. I will use my Inuktitut language and my culture in practising it everyday. Also strife to use our Inuit knowledge and practises. We are very proud of our students learning in Inuktitut.
As we are coming close to finishing our training , I foresee in becoming a teacher and envisioning how I will do it and there will be I am sure some issues to deal with and things I would like to teach with and I am expecting that the students that I will be teaching please remember that I was your teacher and remember me how I taught. Amaujaq gave so much to Inuit in some areas and becoming a teacher is part of it and I am going to graduate. My job is to keep our culture and language alive. Amaujaq passed on great things to us. I would like to say thank you and to you Amaujaq. God be with you.
