National Adult Literacy Database

September 17, 2007

The following story was written by Joel Maniapik, from Pangnirtung, Nunavut.  Joel was recently enrolled in a Management Studies Program at Nunavut Arctic College.  He is also an artist and is relatively well-known in northern Canada.  As an Inuit artist, he uses watercolour to depict the landscapes in his area.

Story

by Joel Maniapik

I recognize the importance of literacy as I have experienced the benefits of reading and writing since my childhood. My sometimes overly active imagination has been enriched from reading books, magazines and from listening to stories.

I have had to attend upgrading classes as I dropped out of school at grade 8. In the early 80's I attended evening math classes. Then I was in the Basic Office Procedures program in 1985 and took Academic Studies in Fort Smith in 1986. More recently I have taken parts of the Management Studies Program and Elements of Instruction as part of my Professional Development with Nunavut Arctic College. I strongly believe in lifelong learning.

Now, I'm acting co-ordinator for Community Programs (north Baffin) at Nunavut Arctic College. Before I moved to Iqaluit I was an Instructor/Adult Educator at the Pangnirtung CLC. I have learned a great deal from my interaction with adult learners.

I am also an artist. My favorite medium is watercolor. I attended the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik and the Circumpolar Arts Exhibition in Anchorage, Alaska. Just recently I was in Ottawa with the Pangnirtung Weavers at the Museum of Civilization in the opening of "Nuvisavik, a place where we weave" Exhibition.

[This story was taken with permission, from The Book of Changes, published by the Learners’ Advisory Network of MCL.]