Rankin program brings elders, youth together
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Jan 17/01) - Good things happen when elders and youth are brought together.
In its attempts at developing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit tradition and science) in its classrooms, Leo Ussak elementary school recently began a new program aimed at bringing elders and youth together.
School principal Cheryl Forbes says the first group of elders to visit the school taught the students about Inuit culture and drum dancing.
"We submitted a proposal to an elders in the school program and received some funding, so that's how the program came about for us," says Forbes.
"We plan to be bringing the elders in for different activities throughout the rest of the year and are still working on a schedule."
Forbes says a group of elders met with local Inuit culture and Inuktitut teachers Guita Anawak and Helen Iguptak this past fall.
She says the group sat down to discuss what they thought could effectively be taught at the different grade levels and what the students could learn.
The first interaction between the elders and students paid immediate cultural dividends.
"Drum dancing lessons were the first step in the program and the children absolutely loved it.
"In fact, we added the drum dancing to our school's Christmas concert.
"We had three different groups of drum dancers perform during the show."
Pictures of a number of local elders have long hung on school walls at Leo Ussak.
The pictures received an upgrade to coincide with the program's implementation.
"We've had these elders' pictures hanging around the school for quite some time now and our vice-principal, Sarah Ayaruak, has just added the names to the pictures in English and Inuktitut.
"Now the elders are properly identified and that helps make more of a connection with the students as well."
