As the 2017 Jack Matthews Fellow, Aaju Peter brought Inuit knowledge and tradition to the forefront at Trent University through open dialogue, laughter and dedication to the Inuit way of life.

“I was so honoured to come and gained so much from visiting the University,” said Ms. Peter. “It’s very important to keep a connection with the younger generation, people who will be leaders in the future. One student thanked me for helping her gain more knowledge of the Inuit people.”

A resident of Iqaluit, Ms. Peter is a lawyer, activist and businesswoman. She is dedicated to raising global awareness about issues impacting traditional Inuit culture.

During a busy week in Peterborough she participated in a series of local events including a lecture and lamp lighting ceremony held on January 30 in the Gathering Space of the First Peoples House of Learning at Gzowski College.

Reflecting on some lighthearted moments during the ceremony she recalled, “One woman told me she had never laughed so much. Living in a harsh environment, we laugh a lot. Being able to laugh is when real learning begins. Barriers and assumptions break down. People become human beings.”

According to Ms. Peter, the lamp lighting ceremony also reconnects participants to tradition and serves as a reminder to appreciate the environment. Referring to the struggles facing northern Inuit communities that lack basic amenities, she feels it is important for Canadians to look after each other.

“Inuit knowledge gained over thousands of years needs to be heard and needs to be learned,” she said. “It’s a whole different way of living and sharing. We need to understand that knowledge.”

As subject of the documentary, Angry Inuk, Ms. Peter also delivered a keynote address as part of the screening of the film at the ReFrame Film Festival in Peterborough.

Saying how grateful she was to be appointed the 2017 Jack Matthews Fellow, Ms. Peter added, “Trent students should consider themselves very blessed to have the opportunity to go to university.” As students in Canada’s Arctic must travel south to attend university, she also stated, “An understanding of the world broadens the mind.”

The Jack Matthews Fellowship, a collaboration of Trent University, Lakefield College School, and the Canadian Canoe Museum, honours the memory of the legendary Canadian who was a head of Lakefield College School, a founder of the Canadian Canoe Museum, and founder of the Trent University International Program. Previous fellows have included Shelagh Rogers, Joseph Boyden, Nicolas Dickner and Mike Robinson.