Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Noah Henry Carpenter an lnuvialuk from Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, known by, in lnuvialuit, as lkaahuk. He was the son of Fred Carpenter and Ada Gruben. He was known as Dr. Noah Carpenter. On behalf of his family, friends and relatives, I would like to share a part of his story of his life.
I begin with some excerpts from CBC Canada. Dr. Noah Carpenter was a highly skilled surgeon, the first lnuvialuk surgeon in Canada. He passed away recently, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and inspiration to many fellow Northerners. Originally from Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Dr. Carpenter defied expectations throughout his life. He studied chemistry at the University of Manitoba before deciding to pursue his career in medicine. In 1971, the first Inuk doctor in Canada and later specialized in thoracic surgery. Dr. Carpenter's dedication to his profession and determination to succeed made him an inspiration to all and many. He will be remembered for his significant contributions to the medical field and the impact on the community.
In 1983, CBC profiled Dr. Carpenter, an lnuvialuk man originally from Sachs Harbour, lkaahuk, spoke about the arrival in Winnipeg years before as a young student from the North enrolled in the University of Manitoba. They had a welcoming party, he recalled, in amusement, and wanted to greet him. They were expecting someone with dark hair and Orientallooking features wearing a fur parka and carrying a big spear. It must have been great disappointment, he says, that they didn't find that.
Dr. Carpenter, who died this month, was being remembered for his lifetime of hard work and determination, his accomplishments, and skilled surgeon, and the inspiration he gave to many fellow Northerners. He was always on top of his game in every way, said his brother Joey Carpenter in Sachs Harbour. He was always somebody to look up to.
Noah Carpenter went to residential school in Aklavik in 1960 before moving to Inuvik for high school, later the University of Manitoba to study chemistry. In 1983, a TV profile said the original goal was to become a high school teacher to teach science. Somewhere along the way, he decided to go to med school. In 1971, he was said he was the first Inuk doctor in Canada.
His education, his training, didn't stop there, though. He would go on to study surgery and to go to school in Scotland to specialize in thoracic surgery. You know, 50 years ago, you couldn't imagine any one of us becoming a doctor. You know, times are different, and it was an aspiration that most of us couldn't even dream of, his brother Joey said. Noah would later describe how his father Fred Carpenter a successful trapper in the North expected Noah to follow in his footsteps in what was then still a booming business in the North. He didn't understand his own son becoming a doctor instead, Noah recalled. As the years went by, I think and understand perhaps I made the right move, Noah said, in 1983. He was quite proud actually of being a doctor; I am a doctor.
In the profile, Noah would reflect more on his decision to carve a different path for himself and the compromises it required. He spoke bluntly about surrendering to the system and often at odds with Northern culture and tradition. You can't expect to devote a lot of time hunting and fishing and maintaining the old ways of life and expect to become a firstclass thoracic surgeon, he said. There's always talk about breaking through and beating the system. Well, you know, the system isn't out to beat you. I think you have to just accept it, surrender into it and that's the way you'll succeed. You have to work at it. And to do your studies, you don't do things it halfheartedly. Dr. Carpenter became the first Inuvialuit doctor in 1971 to focus on a segment in 1983, his education changed his life but led him south. One of the tragedies about the North, after trying for so long I hadn't worked out, working.
In 1995, Dr. Carpenter was recognized through an Indspire Award and many groundbreaking accomplishments, the Inuvialuit specialist surgeon to emerge from the Northwest Territories. He has been an inspiration to many and returns there to speak to the youth, motivating to understand the importance of achieving higher education, reads the Indspire website.
Dr. Carpenter would now enjoy a long career as a surgeon in Comox, BC, and later Brandon, Manitobe. He also maintained his connection to the North.
His last visited in 2019 at the high school reunion. He would have liked to have worked in the North, he said in 1983, but described it never had the opportunity. I don't know what it is about me and the North and I. It's certainly something that I wanted to do, he said. The fact that not working there will always remain a mystery.
Note the bold lettering in regards to Dr. Noah Carpenter's website. September 27th. Inuvialuit Regional Corporation remembering the great success and strong determination of Dr. Noah Carpenter from Ikaahuk (Sachs Harbour), son of Ada and Fred Carpenter. Noah is believed to be the first ever Inuvialuk to become a medical doctor to push even farther into medicine becoming a leading general surgeon and to specialize in the field. The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation said it is sad to learn of recent passing and would like to offer comfort to the family and his communities on our significant loss.
Dr. Noah Carpenter is an inspiration to all Inuvialuit. We are proud beneficiaries who have since followed and pursuing areas of medicine and science, like Noah Carpenter, who dedicate themselves to complete advanced schooling and show Inuvialuit what they can achieve in life and careers, said chair Duane Smith.
Noah Carpenter originally furthered his education beyond a medical doctor while working and advancing techniques in thoracic surgery, vascular surgery. Noah was given a Indspire, an aboriginal achievement award. We have enjoyed listening to Sallirmiutun songs and never forgot his traditional Inuvialuit upbringing.
Noah was a survivor of residential schools starting in Aklavik and welcomed back his family visited and SAMS school reunion. He is an inspiration and will be remembered.
Speaking to CBC last week, his brother Joey Carpenter, who lives in Sachs Harbour, brother to Noah, says I am still absorbing the news of my brother's death. He was always on the good side of everything. We looked up to him. It's gonna take me a while, you know, to think about it. It never really hit me yet. And I, all Inuvialuit and fcountless others who knew Dr. Noah Carpenter, will echo these words from his brother Joey. It's gonna take me awhile to, you know, to think about it. It never really hit me yet.
On behalf of the family, friends and relatives of Dr. Noah Carpenter, an Inuvialuk from Ikhaahuk, my words are too weak to express my respect my respect and gratitude of what he's done. Dr. Noah Carpenter blazed a wonderful way and inspiring trail for all Inuvialuit and all Northerners. Noah Henry Carpenter will be missed. Thank you for the trail you left us. Thank you for the memories and deeds of a wonderful man. Dr. Noah Carpenter was a fine doctor, a kind friend, a dear brother, and a steadfast son. Thank you, Dr. Noah Carpenter. God bless us all.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and community at this time. And the region as well. Members' statements. Member for Range Lake.
