Makivik Magazine Issue 72

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Well-Earned Applause
for Lolly Annahatak
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BOB MESHER
All 14 First Nation, Métis, and Inuit recipients of the 2005
National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAF) in Saskatoon
this past March 31st received loud rounds of applause from the
audience of approximately 2000 celebrants, but the clapping and
cheering for Lolly Annahatak was noticeably the loudest and longest
lasting. Lolly has a way of making people feel good about
themselves, whether it is a packed auditorium or the individual
clients that she counsels in her profession as a
social worker. A video clip of each recipient was
shown to the audience prior to their introductions.
In hers, Lolly says, "I think everyone should
dance, and if you can't dance with your feet then
dance with your voice — sing!"
These awards recognize leaders and despite
her blindness, Lolly leads courageously by her own
example. Originally from near Kangirsuk, Lolly was
diagnosed with infant glaucoma at age three and
lost her sight at age 16. She said, "When I lost
my vision I didn't have a goal or anything. I was
shocked. I felt that I had lost my identity for a
while — being feminist, being who I am as an Inuk woman. And I
never thought I would have children... there's a lot in there."
One of the first people that Lolly thought about as she stood
to receive her award was her late husband, Peter Bentley, who
passed away suddenly on May 28th, 2004. She remembered as a
graduating university student when he proudly phoned a Montreal
radio call-in show to announce his wife's accomplishments. "I could
imagine how much he would appreciate this," she said. "I know
that losing a very close friend is very hard for anyone on this earth.
So when you are left behind, you have to continue the journey. It
is hard, but try to think of the good side of. For example, Peter
was a very important and supportive part of my life, but now in
my life I have my relatives, my community, my friends."
Among her other achievements, Lolly was acknowledged as
the first student guidance counsellor for the Kativik School Board
and the first Inuk to earn a Certificate in Northern Social Work.
She also graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from McGill
University, for which she received a Nunavik Academic Achievement
Award, and then became employed as a social worker for the
people of Nunavik.
SAMMY KUDLUK