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Profile Nellie Arey
A Traditional Woman
Nellie Arey killed her first polar bear at the age of 13. Raised by her grandfather, Paul Kayotuk, on the coast at Herschel Island, Arey has a wealth of traditional knowledge and skill Arey grew up in a time where work was not divided by gender. She can make a tent out of caribou skin, skin a seal, and knows how to live off the land.
Today Arey passes some of her trapping skills to her grandchildren. At the same time she strongly encourages her grandchildren to pursue a college education.
Joanne Ogina DETERMINED
Joanne Ogina is a Recreation Coordinator in Ulukhaktok. Ogina is always on the go. She runs the recreational programs efficiently and within budget, trains the people who work at recreational facilities, and runs between events committees and district education board meetings.
Ogina is determined and makes it her mission to take care of others. She works hard to get the best programs she can for her community so that the youth have a good foundation of programs to work with when they take over.
Her advice to the youth is to “respect yourself and each other.”
