Samantha Putumiraqtuq had vacationed in the south, but it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 until high school graduation when she had the opportunity to move away from Baker Lake.

SA国际影视传媒淢oving down permanently was so much different,SA国际影视传媒� from trips south before, said Putumiraqtuq, who graduated from Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School in 2022 and attended Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) in Ottawa for the last school year.

SA国际影视传媒淚 love that I can decide what type of lifestyle I want for myself when ISA国际影视传媒檓 on my own.SA国际影视传媒�

Going to NS was great in terms of the education, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 learned a lot about my territory and what my ancestors went through.SA国际影视传媒�

She was also glad to learn more about Inuktitut, saying she wishes the NS programs could be held in Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淔rom not being fluent in my language, ISA国际影视传媒檓 proud to have gone and learned how to speak it comfortably to help with employment opportunities in Nunavut and even with an Inuit organization,SA国际影视传媒� said Putumiraqtuq.

As the NS campus is located downtown Ottawa, students are exposed to a diversity of cultures as well, and Putumiraqtuq enjoyed being around French people more and getting back into that language again.

SA国际影视传媒淣S staff, let alone Inuit always encouraged us to have knowledge in every aspect possible,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hether that is in our studies, going further in your studies such as earning college certificates to degrees, learning as many languages as possible, and even having knowledge on how to survive on the land. This truly makes us future generations thrive in our environments since colonization and assimilation.SA国际影视传媒�

She also learned artistic skills such as seamstress work, traditional songs, making ulus and playing Inuit games.

Although she enjoyed the city life, she would have liked learning about Inuit history without the distraction of downtown sights.

SA国际影视传媒淟iving in Ottawa was probably the best change I made in my life up to this day,SA国际影视传媒� said Putumiraqtuq. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a time in my future where I will definitely move back.SA国际影视传媒�

This summer, though, she returned home to Baker Lake SA国际影视传媒� and that wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 easy.

SA国际影视传媒淚 got so used to being on my own, having my own space and doing what I wanted any time I wanted,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 miss being able to do whatever I wanted, like going out shopping for things other than groceries and going out to eat at the same two restaurants. The thing I miss most about southern life is the culture.SA国际影视传媒�

If she could do it again, she would have gone straight to university after high school instead of the one-year college program at NS.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat way, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 need to keep applying to another post-secondary school,SA国际影视传媒� said Putumiraqtuq. SA国际影视传媒淣S offers a second-year program, but you have to apply to the second year, whereas for university I would have just passed my courses and gone to my second year in the fall.SA国际影视传媒�

Now, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 spending a year to work and save up.

SA国际影视传媒淣obody truly talks about how hard it is to just live off of student funding,SA国际影视传媒� said Putumiraqtuq when asked what advice she would give new grads, adding that her parents helped her financially as well.

SA国际影视传媒淢y advice for new grads that are looking to go to post-secondary right after high school is to save up money for yourself, because when you are able to access things simply such as a shopping mall or a new restaurant, youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to need money for that.SA国际影视传媒�