Duke of Edinburgh leaves his mark

MIRIAM HILL

The cafeteria of Inuksuk High School was transformed with royal blue drapes and room separators last week into an intimate space for the presentation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s awards.

Sitting on a raised platform in front of the assembled crowd with his arms crossed and a constant smile on his lips, Prince Philip looked genuinely pleased to be there.

The Prince founded the Duke of Edinburgh’s award, known internationally as The International Award for Young People, in 1956 to encourage a sense of responsibility in young people by expanding their horizons.

Youth work their way through challenges in community service, skills development, physical fitness and expeditions and explorations. In Iqaluit, the award’s most northerly outpost, teacher Nick Newbery tailored the program to suit the needs of at-risk students in the school.

“The merit of the award is its flexibility,” Newbery said during the ceremony. Students do a variety of activities including learning about snowmobile repair, gun safety, caribou hunting, dog-team driving and snow-sculpture building.

Donna O’Reilly-Cull, the division executive director for Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, handed the Prince the certificates and pins enclosed in purple velvet boxes to present to the seven youth.

Taqialoo Michael, Mialisa Noah, Marlene Tiglik, Olayou Nutarariaq, Robbie Saimaiyuk, Philip Ningeongat and Kitty Naglingniq all received bronze certificates from the Duke.

In his grey suit, beige shirt and brown speckled tie, the Prince adjusted his outfit and hooked his fingers in his pockets before presenting seven more awards to community members who have helped the program.

RCMP Cpl. Jimmy Akavak, Levi Nowdlak, Joshua Kango, Chief Justice Beverley Browne, Chris Groves on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion, MLA Ed Picco, and elder Annie Nauyaq were all honoured by the Prince.

Nauyaq taught sewing classes once a week this year. “I teach students to sew kamiit, socks, caribou skin parkas, and other clothing that are used for hunting and outdoors,” she said after the ceremony. “I’m very pleased, and pleasantly surprised. I am very thankful to be recognized.”

In 1994, back when Newbery taught students for more than one year, three students were awarded gold Duke of Edinburgh’s awards by Prince Philip in Yellowknife. Two of the three, Evie Ineak and Noolie Peter were in attendance last week and were recognized by the prince.

“Where are you from?” he asked Peter, and asked to be reminded where he presented her with her award.

When he learned that the students who received bronze awards couldn’t move beyond that point because they must go on to a new grade, the prince feigned outrage and looking around him asked, “Where’s the headmaster?”

Speaking without the aid of the microphone, the Prince stood off the platform and addressed the crowd.

“I hope you’ve discovered this is not a conformist program,” he said, referring to the fact that the skills learned can be, and often are, varied.

“I hope you enjoy yourselves and have a good experience,” he continued. “All I can say is I’m glad I don’t have to do an expedition out there.”

After the ceremony, the Prince milled about in the small area, chatting with the students.

Grade 9 student Olayou Nutarariaq, 16, was still excited long after the prince had left the school.

“I was nervous,” she admitted. “I hardly slept last night.” She said she didn’t know what he looked like before and was happy he just said, “Hi,” to her.

Marlene Tiglik called the experience “cool.”

“He was looking right at me,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do.” The prince asked her what she did to get the award, she said, and she told him about her sewing and learning to use a gun.

Sixteen-year-old Philip Ningeongat also said receiving the award was “cool.”

“I got to shake Prince Philip’s hand and he asked me what I did. I told him I fixed up Ski-doos, and played Inuit Games with elders.”

Ningeongat said he’d recommend the program to anyone because you learn so much and, although Newbery is retiring at the end of this year, there is a bright future for the Duke of Edinburgh’s award in Iqaluit.

O’Reilly-Cull said this week that she had met with 12 people, including the school’s principal Terry Young and other staff who have agreed to take on the program for the entire student body, not just for at-risk youth.

This may mean more gold medal awards in the future.

The program is open to everyone aged 14 to 25 and doesn’t necessarily have to be affiliated with a school.