Projects
Iqaluit
Program Name: Inuktitut Literacy & Culture Program
Community: Iqaluit Program
Delivery: Iqaluit Community Learning Centre, NAC
Program Funders:
National Literacy Secretariat, GN Department of Education, Nunavut Arctic College
Goals of the Program: To increase students’ Inuktitut literacy skills and to bring Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to Iqaluit Community Learning Centre.
Length of Program: 15 weeks
Description of Program:
The Inuktitut Literacy & Culture Program consisted of an Inuktitut literacy class as well as three cultural workshops: Sewing with Traditional Patterns, Traditional Storytelling & Stencil Printmaking, and Traditional Dog Team Workshop.
The Inuktitut literacy class combined oral Inuktitut skills with reading and writing. There was a broad range of skills in the class from those who were just beginning to learn the symbols to those who were learning Inuktitut keyboarding. The students commented that they appreciated being able to think in Inuktitut and using more traditional words that are not being used today.
In the two-week sewing workshop students made sealskin mitts, duffle socks or slippers; some completed several projects. Students learned new vocabulary, oral and written, associated with seal skins, patterns, sewing techniques and tools. They improved general conversational skills since the instructor spoke only Inuktitut.
The Traditional Storytelling and Stencil Printmaking workshop was two weeks long as well. Students were mesmerized by the stories. Some commented that it was the first time they had heard stories told in the old way. Students practiced the arts of drawing, stenciling and printmaking. They learned to mix colours, work with and care for tools, to print on a T-shirt and how to sell their artwork. To top off the workshop, they had a show and sale of their work at the end of the two weeks.
The students went on a six hour dog-team trip in March. They learned about the history, care, training, driving and feeding of dogs, as well as the parts of the qamutik and the harnesses. They talked about the different styles of dog-teaming in different communities and listened to several dog team stories. All the interaction was in Inuktitut and students asked lots of questions. They had fun and adventures along the way, including seeing caribou on the sea ice.
Comment from a student on the dog team trip: “Best Day of My Life”
Highlights & Reflections:
On Inuktitut Literacy: “Moe [Instructor], you should do more teaching in Inuktitut because it’s really important to us.”
On sewing: All students felt a tremendous sense of pride in work completed. For most students these were the first pair of sealskin mitts they had ever made. Having a respected Elder as an instructor created a special atmosphere for students. A warm sense of community developed between everyone.
On storytelling and art: It was exciting to see how this experience strengthened family connections for students. One student said, “My dad saw me drawing and came over to help me.” Another said, “My mom saw me drawing and said it reminded her of my grandfather. There must be some of him in me. I didn’t know. She is so proud of me.”
Two students were inspired to apply to Kakivak for a “Small Tools Grant”. One actually did receive close to a thousand dollars worth of carving tools and has just begun to do her own work.
in collaboration with The Nunavut Literacy Council