Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: October 10, 2002
• Invested on: October 24, 2003

Elisapie Ootova is a source of knowledge and support for a people in transition. For over 30 years, this Inuit Elder has been committed to helping the community of Pond Inlet adapt to changes to their traditional society. She has an extensive record of voluntary service in areas such as education, health care, counselling and restorative justice where her leadership and encouragement have been of great benefit. Also highly regarded as a language specialist, she is the co-author of an encyclopaedia of Inuit traditional knowledge and an Inuktitut dictionary. She is a role model for all those seeking to preserve and reinforce Inuit heritage and culture within a modern society.