Iqaluit woman will receive achievement award

SARAH MANIAPIK

IQALUIT — A prestigious aboriginal achievement award will be presented to Leetia Ineak, a life long resident of Iqaluit, for work in Inuit language television.

Ineak will receive a National Achievement Award, to be presented to her in Vancouver at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, on March 10, 2000, a press release says.

Ineak has worked for the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation for 14 years. Her position for the last two years has been producer of the children’s television show Takuginai. Takuginai has been on the air since November 30, 1987.

Takuginai is geared towards children aged four to seven, Ineak says. Previous segments were done in English,but now Takuginai will be airing in Inuktitut, says Ineak.

Ineak has always worked closely in the production of Takuginai. Before she became producer of Takuginai, Ineak was a production assistant. When first starting out, Ineak participated in puppet-making workshops, script writing, and how to do children’s programming.

One of the first puppet workshops that Ineak attended was with Pat Hardy, the librarian at Nakasuk school in the early 1980’s. Ineak also picked up skills from Lorraine Young, who works with the show Under the Umbrella Tree. Ineak has also worked with people from Sesame Street.

One of Takuginai’s goals is to tell legend stories, and to keep Inuit culture alive, Ineak says. Takuginai also tries to come up with educational themes, dealing with issues like road and gun safety.

Well known puppet characters from Takuginai, “Johnny the Lemming,” “Grandma Malaya,” and “Grandpa Issacie” keep the young viewers watching.

Another well-known character is “Magic Michael,” who performs magic tricks and various stunts that keep even the older viewers laughing.

A showing of Takiginai will consist of a crew of five, production assistant, director, camera man, audio man and a technical producer trainee, says Ineak.

Takuginai will sometimes will receive segments from any of four IBC. centres, located in Igloolik, Taloyoak, Rankin Inlet, and Baker Lake, Ineak says.

Ineak’s feeling when told she was to receive the award was “at first I kind of scared, I didn’t expect something that big to happen to me,” says Ineak. “I am happy, I really can’t put it in to words.”

If you would like more information on the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards you can visit their web site at http://www.naaf.ca.