'Mr Awesome' now even more awesome: Johnny Issaluk named explorer-in-residence
CBC News | Posted: May 19, 2019 11:00 AM | Last Updated: May 19, 2019
New gig with Royal Canadian Geographic Society honours Johnny Issaluk for promoting Inuit culture
From acting, to mountain-climbing, arctic sports, and cold water diving, it seems like there's nothing Johnny Issaluk can't do.
The motivational speaker's stage and screen credits include appearances at Stratford and in Clint Eastwood's Indian Horse. He already has a Queen's Jubilee medal.
Kids on one arctic expedition nicknamed him "Mr. Awesome."
Now he's been named as one of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society's explorers-in-residence.
"I'm still blown away by the idea that they think I am an explorer," he told the CBC. "I don't have any words."
The residency is a volunteer position that will give Issaluk the chance to do more of what he loves as a motivational speaker.
"Basically showcasing who we are as Inuit. You know, we're explorers, we're scientists, we live in a world that's extreme,' he said. And we've survived in it for thousands of years with only essential things that they had back in the day."
Issaluk was inducted at the official opening of the Canada's Centre for Geography and Exploration on May 13th by the society's first explorer-in-residence, Jill Heinerth, who is also the world's first female cave diver.
Heinerth says her work with the society has given her the chance to speak to children in schools across Canada, and she's looking forward to working with Issaluk.
"Certainly as our first Indigenous member of the team it's fantastic," Heinerth said. "Johnny has a focus on educating kids like I do as well. We both talk to kids about what scares them and help them to embrace things that are outside their comfort zone."
Issaluk's latest explorations have been underwater, diving near the shores of Greeland and Baffin Island.
"I thought, you know, I'm terrified of water but I'm very interested in scuba diving, so maybe I'll try it at least once to see what it's like," he said.
"I tried to float, but I sink like a rock. I can't stay up ... So I'm always scared going in. But you know, after a while underwater, I calm down and I see amazing things, wildlife that I didn't know existed in our oceans you know, it's beautiful."
Issaluk says he's honoured to be recognized as a conservationist of Inuit culture and tradition.