Profile

Program Coordinator - Puvirnituq

Community of affiliation: Puvirnituq

Language(s): Inuktitut, English, and French

s.irqumia@allarctic.org

3rd Year at Qaulirmat

So, fun fact: I was the very first staff member to join Qaulirmat in my home community of Puvirnituq. Basically, I’m the “OG employee,” which sounds way cooler than it probably is.

I dabble in a bit of everything—language, culture, sports, recreation—you could say I’m a jack-of-all-trades, master of… well, at least one or two. People sometimes call me a role model, which is flattering, but honestly, I’m just trying my people and share the beauty of our culture, stories, and traditions.

English? Taught myself. High school? Finished in French. Then I took off to Montreal for the Nunavik Sivunitsavut program, where I picked up knowledge, stories, and probably way too much coffee. Imagine a USB stick that uploads legends instead of files—that’s me.

After all that, I came back home, because Puvirnituq has my heart. And here I am, running Qaulirmat for my third consecutive year. Some people say my work ethic makes me stand out. I say it’s just a mix of stubbornness, caffeine, and not wanting to let people down.

I won’t lie—I’ve had my fair share of struggles. Life throws stuff at me, same as anyone. But I’m stubborn (ask anyone), and I refuse to let those struggles write my story. From my time at Qaulirmat, I can tell that the youth participants are really engaged with the Program. They show up every day and contribute and engage in any way they can. The first one that comes to mind is Kevin Putugu. Him and I are connected forever, as he was the first ever youth registrant to Qaulirmat back in 2023. I stay strong because I’ve got too many goals to chase. One of them? Becoming a lawyer.

And through it all, I hold tight to the traditional stories, myths, and legends I grew up with. They keep me grounded, they remind me who I am, and they make me laugh when I need it most. Most of all, and this is something all my close-ones know about me, I have a contagious laugh and I am always positive. In other words, I know how to turn any situation into a challenge and opportunity. My manager calls me CSI.