Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 27/00) - Hot on the heels of their new contract, the fledgling Federation of Nunavut Teachers is making waves in more ways than one.

A two-day workshop, facilitated by the vice-president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, recently wrapped up in Iqaluit, leaving executive members with new goals and ideas.

"We did some strategic planning and put together long-term plans for the next three years," said Emily Noble.

"There are similarities to Northern Ontario with remote communities and costly communication -- we want to share our expertise with Nunavut and vice versa."

The two federations signed a partnership agreement last fall when they met at a Canadian Teachers Federation conference.

And although the Ontario federation is 70,000-members strong to Nunavut's 600, Noble says they will develop their partnership and skills together.

One of the greatest challenges Nunavut teachers face is establishing solid contacts within the membership when everyone is spread across vast distances and air travel is the only way to get there.

Geraldine Balzer is the principal of the Kugluktuk high school, and she said having a facilitator at the workshop helped because it gave all of the seven executive members the opportunity to participate in face-to-face brainstorming sessions.

"It's great to have someone to focus us and see what we can't see ourselves.

"We've established direction for our future and working with the Ontario federation doesn't tax our limited resources because the bigger structure is already in place," said Balzer.

"We have a place to get advice from and future supports for developing our own publications and Web sites."

Other topics touched on included professional development, priorities for students and government involvement.

"The FNT has an interdependence with the government and they are building on what they already have," said Noble.

Both Noble and Balzer said the FNT has a very strong sense of cohesiveness.

This was only the second time the seven executive members and the executive director met in person, all other work is conducted through teleconferences.