Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 3, 2007

IQALUIT - An Iqaluit youth group is working to promote a more positive school environment and community.

Members of the local YOUCAN team - which stands for Youth Organizing to Understand Conflict and Advocate Non-violence - hosted their first conflict resolution workshop at Inuksuk high school on Nov. 16.

Through discussion and play, a group of students from Grades 9 through 12 examined themes such as anger management, peer mediation and unlearning prejudice.

Tension and violence has been all too common at the school in the past, according to participant Amy Kalluk-Akeeagok.

"People have to learn how to resolve it in a different way, so it has a less negative outcome," she said.

On Resolve It Day, YOUCAN members split up to lead groups in icebreaker games and discussions.

A presentation by Kalluk-Akeeagok and fellow YOUCAN member Ellie Crawford focused on self reflection and the identification of personal bias.

The pair had met almost daily for the past few weeks with the rest of the group in preparation.

Although she describes herself as a "shy person," Kalluk-Akeeagok had clearly overcome her timidity.

"It opens you up so much, and it's so much fun. I didn't even know Amy that much before," Crawford said.

"I only knew she was Ellie," added Kalluk-Akeeagok with a laugh.

Late last month, two YOUCAN trainers came up from Ottawa to work with the local group, which has about 25 members. For 28 hours over one weekend, they focused on skills such as effective listening, how to identify your anger and triggers and the strategies to deal with it.

Many of these activities were replicated on Resolve It Day.

"It was a good session for the first time running the thing," said Wendy Tulk, a teacher adviser to the group.

"Peers listen to peers more than they do adults, and I think if we can grab a chunk of our students who are natural leaders - both Inuit and qalluunat - I think their peers will listen to them more," Tulk said. "We have so many positive students in our school, and this group is another tool we can use."