Rankin Inlet (Apr 30/03) - Good things come to those who wait.

The Ottawa-based Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) program will add a second year of studies in September of 2003 on a pilot basis.

The decision was reached during a NS board of directors meeting in Iqaluit this past month.

The initial class will have eight students comprised of 2002-03 graduates, as well as a number from earlier years.

Six Kivalliq students are enrolled in this year's NS program.

Second-year students will take courses at both Algonquin College and Carleton University in Ottawa.

NS instructor Morley Hanson said participants will function like regular post-secondary students, with full responsibility for managing their time and course work.

He said students will continue to take courses at NS to deepen their knowledge of Inuit history and current issues, and to further develop their communication skills in both Inuktitut and English.

"The idea to expand the program actually came from NS students," said Hanson.

"They often told us they'd like to do more studies than what they receive in the one year NS program.

"Many of them would like to continue on studying in the same fashion."

It took the NS board about seven years to determine what students were looking for in a second year.

Board members felt a number of students simply wanted to relive something very special to them, which wasn't justification for adding a second year of studies.

That changed at an alumni conference in May of 2000.

Members were able to identify a beneficial second-year curriculum to meet student needs.

"The students want to get more integrated into college and university courses, which ties in with what we've seen with the original NS program.

"We have a number of students who finish the program, but are not quite ready to attend college or university.

"And, some want to learn more about what they cover in the first year.

"Those two ideas came through a lot, so that's what we designed the second year around."