Congratulations, Nunavut Sivuniksavut’s class of 2019

It took “7,315,000 blinks” to bring Nunavut Sivuniksavut’s class of 2019 from the beginning of the school year to their graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, according to first year student Julie Alivaktuk in her graduation speech. Not quite the “blink of an eye” her teacher promised, but that only left more time to “learn, absorb and keep in our hearts.” The ceremony, which was held and live-streamed from Ottawa’s Museum of Nature, was filled with laughs, tears and fond farewells. The students were treated to congratulations from many Inuit leaders, like Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Aluki Kotierk and Nunavut’s minister of education, David Joanisie. The Johnny Karetak Award, which is given to the student “who most exemplifies those values of caring, of steadfastness, of humbleness and of doing better for everyone else,” according to NS coordinator Morley Hanson, was given to Ashley Kalluk of Arctic Bay. (Photo courtesy of NS/Facebook)