A new world war, Michelle Obama and knees: Helen Kimnik Klengenberg takes Proust Questionnaire

Helen Kimnik Klengenberg is a person with an eclectic resumé.

She has worked for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Government of Nunavut, and served as Nunavut’s languages commissioner.

In 2000, she became the first Inuk to graduate with a masters of business administration degree, from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, N.S., according to NTI.

Now a seamstress and Kugluktuk elder, Klengenberg took time to answer the Proust Questionnaire.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Having all the basic necessities of life, I guess.

Having enough to eat, having a roof over your head, good health, being able to go out to your cabin — those sorts of things.

What is your greatest fear?

Well, right now, it’s World War III. That’s something that would certainly be a big concern with the political atmosphere these days.

Which living person do you most admire?

My older sister. She still goes to work and, you know, I admire her for being able to do that at her age.

And politically, even though I no longer shop from the U.S., there are still people there that I really like. Michelle Obama, for example.

But I mean, I’m getting up there in age. I’m 69, so I’m getting short on living people.

But you look very young.

Right. Tell that to my knees.

On what occasions do you lie?

Sometimes you have to tell kids white lies just to save their feelings. But that’s not very often.

I don’t believe in lying. I live by the truth.

Which talent would you like to have?

I always wanted to play the violin. I even bought a violin many years ago and I still haven’t learned to play it.

What’s your greatest achievement?

You know, I’ve always done things.

If you set your mind to doing something, you set a goal and you go for it. I went back to school in my old age, in my 30s.

Then, I went back to university and I have two degrees.

I even took a small engine repair course because we don’t have any mechanics around here, so I’m able to do basic maintenance on my snowmobile and my ATVs.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

New knees. I’ll be 20 years younger.

Where would you like to live?

I love living in the North. I was away from home for 36 years because of work.

Now I’m back home, and I don’t wish to live anywhere else.

What is your greatest regret?

I try not to dwell on things I should have done or not. So I don’t think I have any regrets.

Nunatsiaq News is borrowing the old Proust Questionnaire parlour game to get to know people who are in the news. If you know someone in your community who our readers should get to know by taking this questionnaire, let us know by email: editors@nunatsiaq.com.