Miley Wolki: Bridging Roots and a Connected North

When Connected North team member Morgan Wilson sat down with Miley Wolki, a Grade 12 student from Tuktoyaktuk and a recipient of the Digital Inclusion Grant from TakingITGlobal, it quickly became clear that she has been busy. Very busy.

Since Grade 9, Miley has immersed herself in extracurricular activities. She helped co-design a language app, filmed for Tuk TV, and contributed to several community-based projects, building skills and confidence along the way.

One of her most notable projects is the language app Bridging Roots. Originally designed for use within the school, the app has since been released to the public. Over the summer, Miley was hired to conduct scans of an area near the college to support visiting scientists. Recognizing an opportunity to connect her work to the app, she advocated for the scans to be included, adding a science component to the platform. Along with its educational features, the app also includes fun, interactive games.

Miley’s journey with the project began when a professor from the University of Victoria visited Tuktoyaktuk to present the idea for the proposed app. Inspired by that presentation, Miley became involved and eventually found herself presenting at the ArcticNet Research Conference to hundreds of attendees. She spoke about the project and her role in it, earning a standing ovation.

Her accomplishments extend beyond the app. Through the Digital Inclusion Grant, Miley received a laptop preloaded with content, something that has made a meaningful difference in her life. Having a reliable computer of her own meant she could continue working on her projects over the summer without interruption. It has also allowed her to explore potential career paths and university programs as she plans to study Anthropology, History, and English.

Reflecting on the opportunities the Connected North program provides, Miley shared, “I think that having a connection to people who are passionate about what they’re doing really sets an example of what we can achieve as Inuit and Indigenous people. I think it really opens up opportunities for students to find their career path and discover what they want to do in the future. It’s great to have different opportunities available for kids who cannot travel often.”

She also spoke about the importance of role models in the classroom. The visit from the professor and the team from University of Victoria inspired her to consider attending the university after graduation. “I think it really inspires kids to join different projects and find what they want to do with their education or their career. With all the projects I’ve been a part of, I was really able to find who I wanted to be,” she said.

Through Connected North, role models enter classrooms and spark new possibilities. And with everything she has already accomplished, Miley Wolki has become a role model for her younger peers as well.