Chelsea Singoorie
I grew up between two worlds, both geographically and culturally. I divided my time between Eastern Quebec and the northern tip of Baffin Island, Nunavut.
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In addition to that divide, you have to know that my first language is Inuktut. I didn’t know any English or French when I started school, but it didn’t matter, because play is a universal language.
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Friendship, connection, and community have always been a part of my life, in many more ways than one. It crosses cultures, languages, and age.
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The friends I’ve made over the years include some that come and go but there are those who remain to this day.
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My successes are built on all the people who have come into my life; each interaction—both positive and negative—has created a lasting impact on the person I’ve grown to be today.
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The adventures, mistakes, growth, and setbacks have become the foundation on which I’ve built my life.
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As an Inuk, I have been directly affected by residential schools, suicide, tuberculosis, and forced relocation. As a result, I have lost many family members and friends over the years.
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This forced reality has had a profound impact on my life; it has shaped the decisions and choices available to me.
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I’ve always looked toward my late great-grandmother for guidance and wisdom. I feel like my culture and my ancestors continue to play a role in my perseverance.
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As I grow and work on myself, my community and friends may shift and change, but my culture will always be a pillar, something that I reach out to. It is a cornerstone in my life.
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Over the years, I have had the opportunity to travel and live across Canada. Being able to create new experiences and build lasting connections has continued to drive my curiosity toward life.
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Throughout the communities I’ve had a chance to be a part of, I’ve met some amazing mentors who have helped me navigate the many challenges in my life.
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To this day, I rely on a handful of people in my corner of the world. While they’re not family by blood, they’re the family I’ve been fortunate enough to have gained.
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Consequently, there is no monetary value that could ever compare to my gratitude toward the people who have guided me throughout my life.
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A mainstay in my life has been an overwhelming urge to continue to move forward. As a young person, I’ve often felt helpless to change my environment.
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More than ever, collective mental health is imperative in moving forward. And it has continued to be an overarching goal in my life.
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While a part of my southern upbringing meant no elbows on the table, rules, structure, and consequences, my traditional northern upbringing meant learning by example, on-the-land survival, and building community through acts of service.
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Two worlds, with a contrast so stark I would never truly be able to fit into either.
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But still. I will keep forging my own path forward as a modern day explorer. Inuk, Qallunaq, urban, remote, and rural.