Photo: Nunavut’s next leaders graduate from Nunavut Sivuniksavut

Parents, friends and supporters take snapshots as Nunavut Sivuniksavut’s graduates dance and sing at the end of their graduation celebration in Ottawa May 15. More than two dozen first and second year students from Nunavut, Nunatsiavut and the Inuvialuit region celebrated their end-of-term graduation at the Wabano Centre this past weekend. “It’s what we learned about ourselves that I will take away,” said second-year student Adam Aqpik of Iqaluit, who also sits on the board of NS. Many students said they gained confidence and learned valuable life skills over the past year and came out of their shells because of the experience that NS provided them. “Many thank-yous for helping me to see there is life outside a small town,” Avery Keenainak of Pangnirtung said. The event also marked the retirement of this year’s “last graduate,” Murray Angus, a founding instructor who helped start NS in 1984. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)