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Cambridge Bay

Best Practices - Literacy Programs in Nunavut

Program Name: May Hakongak Community Library & Cultural Centre Programs

Community: Cambridge Bay

Program Delivery: Kitikmeot Heritage Society (KHS)

Program Funders:
Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, Nunavut Library Services, Municipality of Cambridge Bay, Canadian Heritage, Kitikmeot Inuit Association.

Program Partners:
Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, Nunavut Library Services, Municipality of Cambridge Bay, Canadian Heritage, Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Ikaluktutiak District Education Authority, Kiilinik High School.

Goals of the Program: To deliver a range of cultural and educational programs and services aimed at incorporating modern knowledge with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.

Length of Program: On-going.

Description of Program:
Through the May Hakongak Community Library & Cultural Centre, the Kitikmeot Heritage Society has delivered a range of programming aimed at promoting and supporting literacy and language skill development in both English and Inuinnaqtun. In 2002 the KHS opened the newly constructed May Hakongak Community Library & Cultural Centre. The centre is a fully integrated public library, school library, cultural centre, museum, archives, and art gallery. Some of the programs offered through the centre include:

  • Community Library Services: This service provides children and adults with access to books, videos and other resources and research assistance. Both modern and traditional sources of information are offered to library patrons.
  • Museum and Archive Program: The centre includes museum displays and archives that offer students and community members with information on the culture and history of the people from the region.
  • Traditional Skills Programs: The centre offers various traditional skill development programs throughout the year. These include skin preparation and sewing and traditional tool making. These programs also encourage the interaction of elders and youth.
  • Summer Camp Programs: Each summer the centre runs traditional oral history and archaeological camps. Elders, students and researchers work together to learn more about the history and prehistory of the area. The camps offer participants with an Inuinnaqtun immersion experience as well. The information collected is then used to develop learner materials, and other resources for community use.
  • Family & Adult Literacy Programming: The library program includes children’s reading circles, summer reading programs and other activities that promote literacy. The centre also offered a drop-in adult literacy tutoring program that ran throughout the school year.
  • Other programs include traditional place names programs, cultural and historical activities and events for tourists and special community events such as singing and drum dancing both in the centre and in iglus specially built for the event.

Highlights & Reflections:

The success of the programs and services delivered by the KHS is most certainly due to their ability to base the programs on the culture, language, and interests of the community of which they serve.

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