A NORTHERN DOCTORCindy Orlaw

Passionate and driven, Cindy Orlaw is the second Inuvialuit person to become a doctor, since Noah Carpenter. Both Cindy and her mother, Maggie Gordon, participated in the Shingle Point games this year.

How did you feel to be back for Shingle Point games this year?

I remember being a little kid and asking my mom if I could go with my uncles, aunts and cousins each summer. Each time, she would say, “No, it’s too dangerous.” When I got this opportunity, I jumped at it. This trip is so important to me. It helped me reconnect with my family and cultural background.

enrolled in the Master’s of Public Health through the University of Alaska in Anchorage this year. My Dad, Pat Jordon also kept taking courses throughout his life. I think that’s been a really good example for me. You are never too old to learn.

I also am passionate about the North and Northern peoples. I’ve taken every opportunity to educate Southerners about life in the North. They don’t have a clue about what it is like. I was disappointed about that. I am so proud of the doctors that came from my medical school class. About twenty have come to the

Where you are based out of now? Do you have any memories about your childhood in the North?

I am a Northerner. I always have been. When I was finishing medical school, I began to look north for work. My family and I narrowed it down and Yellowknife won. It’s a great city for raising teenagers and I could be back in the NWT.

I have several memories of my childhood in the Delta. One of my favourites is being at community drum dances. I was never shy and would get up and dance with everyone. The elders loved it because I was only 2-3 years old.

What is your passion in life?

I have many passions but I love to learn. Some people don’t understand why I would keep on going to school, even after I’ve been a doctor for 5 years. I just can’t seem to stop. I am

NWT to do locums in our communities. I hope I had something to do with them wanting to come up here and see for themselves.

Why did you decide to be a doctor?

I did many things after high school and didn’t return to college until 10 years after graduation (and after one marriage and 2 kids!)

I remember wanting to be a doctor at the age of 15 but many people really didn’t think that I could do it. A school counselor told me, “Girls get married and have babies, they don’t go on to study the sciences”. I was the only girl in my grade 12 physics class! Talk about being out of place!

I tried other things before returning to school in 1993. I worked about 13 different jobs before going back to school. I don’t regret any of it because it made me a more mature person, and a better doctor.

At college in Fort Nelson, I was getting ‘A’s. I think it’s because I was actually ready to be disciplined and work at my studies.

It seemed easy to be the smartest person in Fort Nelson so I decided to try summer school at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

My parents lived in Vancouver. I packed up my two kids and left my husband in Fort Nelson to work. I was very surprised to discover that I could get ‘A’s in UBC as well. That’s when I made up my mind to try to get into medicine (at last!) I went back to Fort Nelson and finished my second year at the college, and then the whole family packed up and moved.

During this time, my parents were so helpful and supportive. They helped by taking the kids and giving us a weekend here and there to study. What a blessing that was! We really appreciate all the support both of our families have shown us.

Tell us about your challenges to get there.

I love being a doctor. I had to jump through some hoops to get there. There is an extra exam to write before getting into medical school. It is called the MCAT. I was terrified. I was so confused by the physics that I thought for sure I would fail. My husband, however, found a great way to teach me by simplifying the math. I did great!

With my MCAT score, I applied to medical school. Three people interviewed me. That was stressful! I decided to just be myself. One doctor asked me a question to see if I would do something unethical. He set up a “scenario” where I could pull the plug on someone’s life-support to save another apparently more deserving patient. What he didn’t expect was some good old Inuvialuit ingenuity! Instead of saying whether I would pull the plug or not…I said, “I’ll build another life support machine”. He was very surprised and said, “You can’t.” “Why not?” I said. Anyway, I think I impressed him with that answer. I think most Northerners and Inuvialuit would see that my answer as a definite option. We think outside the box.

Does being Inuvialuit have an influence on your choices and options?

female. I want to help show kids that getting educated is important. I take that role most seriously.

I want to encourage Aboriginal youth. Never let what someone tells you stop you from getting what you want. If you want something, you can get it….just gotta work hard.

I make choices with my family. I have all the options in the world and can’t wait to see what the future has to offer!

What are your plans for the future?

I am doing my Masters in Public Health by distance learning, so I can take courses at home and continue to work. I felt the need to get more education because I am being asked to sit on national committees and speak as an expert in Aboriginal peoples’ health. I need more training in population health so that I can speak about Inuvialuit, Inuit and Northern peoples’ health appropriately. Maybe I can accept a position as an expert on Aboriginal peoples’ health one day!

I will be sworn in as the President of the Northwest Territories Medical Association in February, 2008. This is another learning opportunity for me on a political level. I can help keep the North on the national map. I can help Northern peoples by advocating for ideas that improve their health.

I went to one meeting and learned a lot! I like the dinners with all the fancy clothes. I have a fine collection of shoes that I love to wear! I met several important politicians and spoke to them about Aboriginal and Northern peoples. They were interested to meet me as I am the only Inuvialuit doctor on the political scene. Perhaps they will remember us!

We love to laugh and don’t take ourselves too seriously. A lot of people wonder if I am really a doctor! I laugh a lot but am serious when I need to be. I like listening to stories and figuring out how I can help people.

It’s rare that an Inuvialuit becomes a doctor. Noah Carpenter was the first and only one so far. I am the second and the only