Recipients of the NWT Ministerial Literacy Awards were Tuesday for their achievements in learning, employment, education and personal advancement. 

While being recognized is always nice, Jim Stauffer, recipient of the Ministerial Supporting Literacy Through Technology Award, said the bigger thrill was seeing that his contribution became widespread and valued to government and education workers throughout the NWT. 

Stauffer is the community adult educator for Aurora College in Whati and a long-time advocate of the use of technology to support English and Dene languages. Since the '90s, Stauffer has been facilitating the use of Dene Fonts through the .  

He said a tool allowing users to produce and disseminate translations is important for sharing information. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 canSA国际影视传媒檛 speak highly enough of the importance of languages used in every way possible,SA国际影视传媒� Stauffer said. 

While pleased by the recognition, he said SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 the Tlicho people that taught me the importance of the language.

SA国际影视传媒淭he people who took me out in the bush and taught me trapping and taught me how the world works in their frame of reference, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 part of what drives me and motivates me,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Cassidy Lennie-Ipana and Mataya Gillis of were named recipients of the Ministerial Youth Learner Literacy Award. 

The duo, aged 18 and 17, respectively, started the free magazine in 2019 as a way of elevating Inuvialuit youth. The magazineSA国际影视传媒檚 fourth issue, dedicated to raising awareness of racism, comes out in March. While Lennie-Ipana wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 certain of the funding that accompanies the accolade, she said every little bit helps for a free publication produced by volunteers. 

The Inuvik-based duo are often congratulated within their community, but being recognized territorially was a nice surprise and SA国际影视传媒渁 stepping stoneSA国际影视传媒� to being able to continue producing the magazine, Lennie-Ipana said.

She said the award is a lesson in persistence and dreaming big.

SA国际影视传媒淚 never thought weSA国际影视传媒檇 get this far,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of it is just applying. ISA国际影视传媒檓 still surprised at how far weSA国际影视传媒檝e come just by being motivated.SA国际影视传媒� 

Nipaturuq recently recruited a third teammate for the magazine, Alexis McDonald, who focuses on art and graphics. 

Lennie-Ipana said she's proud to know there are other youth interested in joining the team so that the publication can thrive. 

The six other awards distributed this year are as follows:

Delores Vittrekwa SA国际影视传媒� Council of the Federation Literacy Award for the Northwest Territories

Dwayne Drescher SA国际影视传媒淎djgaliaqSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� Ministerial Outstanding NWT Educator Literacy Award

Susan Chaffee SA国际影视传媒� Ministerial Adult Learner Literacy Award

Javaroma Gourmet Coffee & Tea SA国际影视传媒� Ministerial Outstanding Support for Literacy Development NWT Business Award

William Maltus SA国际影视传媒� Ministerial Second Language Learner Award

Deninu K懦臋虂 First Nation SA国际影视传媒� Ministerial Outstanding Support for Literacy/Language Development Award

R.J. Simpson, minister of Education, Culture and Employment, stated, SA国际影视传媒淚t is an honour to celebrate the excellence of our winners and all they have achieved. Literacy skills in any and all of our official languages are crucial to daily living, employment, citizenship, personal advancement and life enjoyment. I offer my sincere congratulations to all of this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 recipients.SA国际影视传媒�

The awards, founded in 2002, employ a selection committee of GNWT and territorial non-governmental organization representatives to name winners from the pool of nominees.