by Lacey Wrigley
Sister Celeste Goulet travelled to Tulita in 1979 planning to stay for one year as an educator, but she never left.
For more than 40 years, Goulet has dedicated her life to educating youth, founding a preschool and leading Saint Theresa's Church.
As a young girl, Goulet had her own struggles with education, after a bout of the measles prevented her from speaking until the age of 10.
“It was hard to get through school because of that,” said Goulet in an interview with News/North.
After her father became paralyzed from a stroke, her mother assumed caregiving responsibilities for Goulet and her youngest brother.
"Although my dad was paralyzed and couldn't talk, he would never give up. He would always try to be there for us and to guide us,” said Goulet.
Her personal struggles inspired her to pursue a career in childhood education.
"Because I was slow in school, I always wanted to help kids become the best they could be,” said Goulet.
“I know how hard it was for some kids that weren't understood by their teachers and peers,” she said. “I wanted to work with children because I want to help them express who they really are.”
Goulet obtained her diploma in early childhood education.
If Goulet had not come to Tulita, she said she would be working in Toronto and helping the city's most vulnerable.
But in 1979, Sister Celeste travelled from Toronto to Edmonton to participate in a workshop on Northern pastoral leadership.
"Being a sister, we always go on retreats, when I was at one of those retreats, I could hear God telling me he wanted me to work with First Nation's peoples. I told my community and they asked me if I wanted to come North. I agreed,” she said.
So, one August day, Sister Celeste boarded a plane from Edmonton to Tulita, where she has worked and lived for more than four decades. On arriving in Tulita, she consulted with parents of young children and suggested the creation of a kindergarten.
“The parents thought a preschool would be best,” she said. “I agreed, because the children would be able to spend half a day with their families and half a day with their peers."
The Sister Celeste Child Development Centre still stands in Tulita and many youth in the community have been educated by Goulet since it was established.
"I've taught most of the community since 1980,” she said.
She said since her arrival in the late 70s, Tulita has changed dramatically. When she arrived, Goulet said there were only five vehicles in the community and the school had only 30 students. Now, she added, there are more than 100 students being educated in the community.
In forty years, she said her best memories have been made on the land with families, where there are fewer worries.
People have a deep spirituality that's connected to the land and animals, “that give some form of life to the people in Tulita,” said Goulet.
“The community too is very well organized and has it's own beauty just by being by the Mackenzie River and having Bear Rock at the end,” she said. “There's so much of nature to see from just the community. We take it for granted. We forget how beautiful our land is within Tulita itself.”
“Bear Rock also has a lot of meaning to people throughout Tulita and the Northwest Territories.”
"When I first came, I was super shy,” she said. “My first impression was of being on a beach because of the river and the sand. I thought the people from Tulita were very friendly. They accepted me and I accepted them.”
Sister Celeste attended workshops to help others through counselling, including youth and people battling addiction.
Helping the youth form their life can shape the future of the community, said Goulet.
She's had a hand in compiling 15 children's books with stories from local elders, including stories of legends and from elders' childhoods.
In 1999, the Status of Women Council of the NWT awarded her the Wise Women Award, which Goulet was “honoured” to receive. Goulet has been a pastoral leader since 1979.
When asked how long she plans to live in Tulita, she said, “As long as I can get on and off the plane and I'm not a burden to anyone. As long as my health lets me stay.”