'School is a gift,' says Nunavut elder graduating at age 65

Aaju Peter says it's never too late to go back to school. 

The elder, now living in Iqaluit, is graduating this year at age 65.

Peter, also an activist and lawyer originally from Greenland, went back to school earlier this year to study at Pirurvik Inuktitut language institute in Iqaluit where she's also a teacher. 

"Life is a lifelong learning process and if you can upgrade and take the opportunities to learn more, it provides you with more opportunity," she said.

It's a lesson for her fellow graduates and a reminder to herself when her studies become stressful. 

"You have homework, you have to do so many things, and when you are a grown person, you have other responsibilities," she said.

Peter said she likes the challenge, and the result is so worthwhile. 

"Going to school is a gift and it's not a guarantee," she said. "We should take advantage of it."

With language learning in particular, Peter said there's so much at stake and passing the language and culture on to younger generations is a responsibility she takes seriously. 

But, she said, learning is about gleaning knowledge from life outside the classroom too. 

"If they want to travel, if they want to do other experiences, if they want to learn other things, they should do that," she said of anyone looking into post-secondary school. 

"You can always go back to school."