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UQSUQTUUQ/GJOA HAVEN - Part of caring for elders is celebrating their contributions, wisdom and values, said Paulette Tymko, an adult educator at the Nunavut Arctic College in Gjoa Haven.

Ruby and Paul Eleehetook open their gifts at the Elders' Feast in Gjoa Haven. - photo courtesy of Paulette Tymko

Along these lines, a group of students at the college who are hoping to enter the caregiving field honoured the elders in their community by organizing the fourth annual Elders Christmas Feast, Dec. 10.

The celebration was for residents ages 55 and over, representing approximately 85 people in the community.

The class is currently in a pre-employment program, upgrading their knowledge of English and biology. The course will help them meet pre-requisites for the training program to work at the new 24-hour long-term care facility that will be opening in Gjoa Haven on April 1.

“Students gain valuable organizational skills, contribute to the elders' and community well being, as well as complement their resume for future employment opportunities,” said Tymko. “It is a celebration dedicated to age and wisdom, knowledge and values within the community.”

In organizing the event, the students run a bingo granted by the hamlet to pay for the food, as well as do all the cooking, baking and presentation of the feast.

This year, the class served about 60 elders who all went home with some food, a gift and a bag of goodies. The students also organized games for their guests after dinner.

The hamlet of Gjoa Haven looked after transportation, using the school bus to take elders to and from the event, as well as donating gifts and in-kind services to make the celebration a success.

“The elders are a huge part of our culture,” said Trina Sallerina, the hamlet’s economic development officer. “We look upon the past as a source of understanding.”

She said several other organizations also donated promotional items and gifts, including mining companies and Inuit organizations. Renewable Resource also provided reusable bags for the elders to take home.

While the annual feast is a time to recognize elders, it is also a valuable experience for the students and a good opportunity for the college, added Tymko.

“The event gets the community of Gjoa Haven to support and help the students of Nunavut Arctic College in ways that foster the IQ guiding principles of teamwork, serving, respect, co-operation, and, most importantly, Piliriqatigiingniq – working together for a common purpose,” she said. “Also, with the college, one of the mandates more and more is to be inclusive and integrate IQ values in the school year. I’ve been doing this for a while, but now I would like to help people realize that it is going on here.”