Canada’s Volunteer Awards program

Udloriak Hanson: I think especially for this award to be awarded to somebody here in Nunavut, you know, it really helps to highlight what's happening in Nunavut from a charitable perspective and from a volunteerism perspective.

Annaumakkaijiit means helping others to survive, to thrive.

It is a community foundation. It's the first in Nunavut.

The obvious impacts that we've seen, is providing support to community people, community organizations, nonprofits, and charitable organizations here in Iqaluit and in Nunavut.

But I think one of the most interesting things that I've seen happen with this community foundation is it's actually happening in the reverse as well.

There are caring southerners, caring southern Canadians that want to help the North, want to provide support to the North, and there was no real charitable means to do it, no medium. So, with a community foundation, we really created a bridge between the South and our Northern community partners.

There are many that have inspired me, but quite honestly, of course, my mother and father.

During snowstorms, mom and dad would get all bundled up.

And they would drive around the community to make sure the people had what they needed--tea bags, you know? And it was just… it was something we grew up with, and it started to translate into things, like my mother used to take me to visit elders, which doesn't sound very charitable, but at the same time, you know, you learn a lot from elders, obviously, visiting with elders about what the community needs, what needs what kind of support, people need, from a very, you know, essential place, a really grounded place.

To me, it's not just, you know, an award that's been awarded to me. It's my family and those around me that have been able to help me do what I want to do and if there's any reason for a recognition, it's really to recognize them and the important work that everybody does here to ensure that we have healthy, vibrant communities.