Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Repulse Bay (Feb 20/02) - Schools across the Kivalliq Region took part in a number of activities highlighting Inuktitut to mark Language Week in Nunavut.

Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay was one of the more active in the Kivalliq.

Many of the school's students and staff members took part in a number of events last week to recognize both the Inuktitut language and Inuit culture.

Bannock making is always a popular activity in Repulse and the school's language week festivities were no exception.

On Feb. 12, students from grades 10 through 12 spent time in the kitchen making bannock under the supervision of Susan Mablik.

The tasty creations were enjoyed by all, including Mablik, who wasted no time sampling her students' efforts.

Tusarvik school teacher Leonie Aissaoui says students spent a lot of time outside building an iglu, under the guidance of Semi Malliki and David Nuluk, to help with the week's celebrations.

Once the iglu was completed, students from every grade in the school took turns visiting the structure during a three-day period from Feb. 13 to 15.

The students were treated to Inuit legends and elders' storytelling during their visits to the iglu.

"The students and elders sat around the qulliq, ate bannock and drank tea together," says Aissaoui.

"It really was a fun time for all involved."

Students and staff at Tusarvik school also took advantage of Language Week to wear their Inuktitut names tagged to their clothing.

Repulse residents weren't left out of the school's celebration. They were given the chance during the week to pick up some mementos of the occasion.

Every day, Grade 3 teacher Goretti Tinashlu went on the local radio and T-shirts with Inuktitut logos and writing were raffled off to members of the community," says Tusarvik.

"The response to the week's activities was great."