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Students and staff kicked up their heels as they marked the end of the fall term with the Nunavut Sivuniksavut Training Program. The program has been recognized nationally as a leading social change organization. From left, Connie Burke of Iqaluit, instructor Murray Angus, Natasha Mablick of Pond Inlet, Siobhan Iksiktaaryuk of Baker Lake, Charlotte Qamaniq of Iglulik and Paula Rumbolt of Baker Lake. - photo courtesy of Murray Angus

By Carolyn Sloan
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, January 8, 2009

NUNAVUT - An established training program for Inuit youth in Nunavut is being recognized nationally as a leading non-profit organization.

Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) has been named one of Canada’s top 10 social change organizations in 2008 by the Tides Canada Foundation, a charitable institute that supports the nation’s leading charities and non-profits.

The NS program was selected for the award based on the work it has done in preparing Inuit youth for educational, training and career opportunities, instilling pride in Inuit youth and a stronger sense of their identity, and helping to preserve and promote Inuit culture and tradition.

The award “caught us totally by surprise,” said NS co-ordinator Murray Angus Jan.6. “It was quite an honour.”

Angus has been involved with Ottawa-based program since the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut established it as a pilot project in 1985 to educate Inuk youth about the land claims negotiation process.

“It was originally founded to help young people learn about what was going on with land claims negotiations,” he said. “That was happening in the 1980s and all the action was down here in Ottawa.”

At that time, high school graduates were trained as “field workers” to bring their knowledge of the land claims negotiations back home to their communities. They were also involved in the land selection process, conducting research and seeking community input.

The organization has since broadened into a traditional education and life experience program, giving youth the opportunity to develop independence in a supportive environment. As it is a close-knit setting, participants are also able to receive a more customized educational experience.

“It gives them some life experience away from home … and they also learn about the world they’re stepping into back home,” said Angus. “Young people can get away from home, but not be alone. There’s always support within reach.”

About 300 students from across the territory have now graduated from the program, which is in its 24th year. Preliminary findings indicate that 84 per cent of graduates have returned to Nunavut, many to their home communities.

According to a survey of alumni begun this past year, so far the results indicate 52 per cent of graduates are living in the home community. Another 23 per cent are in their home region, while another nine per cent are living in another region in Nunavut.

The remaining 14 per cent are in the south, though probably because they are in school, said Angus.

“People’s commitment to Nunavut is really high when they leave NS,” he said. “The numbers really back it up.”