Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Panniqtuuq (Nov 11/02) - Residents of this Baffin Island community want to see Inuit culture better reflected in Bill 1, the proposed Education Act.

This was the overwhelming message sent to the government's standing committee on health and education during a public meeting held in the community Oct. 30.

Similar meetings were held in other communities in order to give Nunavummiut the chance to tell the government what they would like and not like to see included in the new Education Act.

"Inuit tradition and culture are an Inuit right," said Panniqtuuq resident Lazaroosie Ishuluktaq, quoting words his mother once told him.

His concern is with the way children are taught and how the current education system takes away from Inuit traditions.

Ishuluktaq said his culture will fade because young children are not taught to live on the land or to observe the ways of their ancestors.

"It was very enjoyable how a father would go out hunting. Observing -- that's how we were taught - with respect and appreciation," he said.

Panniqtuuq residents said the education system is also infringing on culture in other ways.

Naimee Kilabuk, recently appointed chair of the district education authority, said the school calendar needs to fit into Inuit culture. She said in the spring Inuit are out on the land teaching their children traditional skills, which makes it difficult to carry on with work in the classroom.

"In the spring, the school population decreases. We have very few months of good weather up here. It's extremely hard to send a child to school," she explained.

Kilabuk said tests and examinations are scheduled in spring. This needs to change.

Kilabuk believes parents also need to take responsibility in their children's education.

"I would like to see that we don't depend solely on the teachers alone to teach our children. The parents need to assist more. We have to work together as a community," said Kilabuk.

On the flip side, Panniqtummiut were happy to see that Bill 1 was specific to Nunavut and that the standing committee on health and education was making an effort to get people's opinions on the proposed legislation.

"When education was introduced to us, no one explained it to us. I went to school and wrote English words. I didn't even understand them," said Ishuluktaq.

Nanulik MLA James Arvaluk is a member of the standing committee on health and education. He said the comments -- similar to those heard from communities across Nunavut -- will be considered.

Arvaluk said the committee will report their findings to the legislative assembly in February 2003.