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REPULSE BAY - Junior high students at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay got a break from their regular school work and a chance to brush up on their traditional skills earlier this month.

The school held a special traditional games day for students in Grade 7 through to Grade 9.

Samantha Sanertanut watches as Barnie Siutinuar and Charlie Uttak, right, lift Kelvin Ivalutanar up so he can roll over the stick during a special day dedicated to traditional games at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay in February of 2009. - photo courtesy of Leonie Aissaoui

Michael Putulik, 22, works with the students at Tusarvik and is working towards becoming a student support assistant at the school.

He said while many of the students spend most of their time playing more modern sports such as hockey, basketball, soccer and badminton, they almost always jump at the chance to improve their traditional Inuit games skills.

"The students really enjoy it when we hold a special day like this, partly because it's better than doing school work, but mainly because they enjoy the traditional activities," said Putulik.

"They enjoy trying the games, but they also enjoy getting the chance to try drum dancing and square dancing.

"It's fun for them to dance with different partners, especially when it doesn't matter how old they are or anything like that."

Putulik said Tusarvik staff members don't get to bring elders into the school as much as they'd like to.

He said when a special day is set aside that features an elder or a group or elders at the school, the kids usually get very excited.

"It's nice to have an elder come in and tell stories about the way life used to be in our community, and also out on the land and stuff.

"They also talk a lot about the differences in the community now as compared to when they were young.

"The kids get very proud when an elder is talking about a family member and their contributions to our community.

"They also listen when the elders talk to them about staying in school and being a good person who contributes to their community, and I really believe that message gets through to a lot of kids when it's said by an elder."