ULUKHAKTOK/HOLMAN - The walls of Maggie Alanak's classroom are covered in drawings of dog teams, igloos, seals, drums made from cardboard, and a collage of birthdays.

Maggie Alanak graduated from Aurora College's Early Childhood Development certificate program in May. She said the program helped her better support her students at the child development centre in Ulukhaktok. - photo courtesy of Aurora College

The language teacher at the child development centre in Ulukhaktok doesn't rely on Play-Doh to keep the three to five-year-olds she works with entertained. She maintains a busy curriculum, complete with field trips and daily language lessons.

Starting with shapes, colours and numbers, she teaches the youngsters new words in Inuinnaqtun, introducing the English word first and explaining the new meaning.

"We're losing so many elders, it's very hard to keep our language strong. It's very important that we try our best that the language is taught here in the centre," she says.

Even the very young children at the centre can say the morning prayer in Inuinnaqtun, but most of her students speak English at home. It's their grandparents who still address them in the native language.

She says the children respond well to the lessons.

"They surprise me sometimes when they say words in Inuinnaqtun. It just comes out. I'm surprised they're saying it and learning it and keeping it," she said.

Alanak gets calls from parents who upon hearing their child use a new word that's unknown to them, want to learn it as well.

But language is just part of the traditional learning component Alanak brings to the child development centre. Drum dancing, sewing and beading all have a place in her lessons.

She wants her students to understand and appreciate their culture. After she's out on the land with her family, she brings the meat back to the kids and makes dry meat for snacks. She said the students are always taken with the traditional foods whether its caribou, fish, muskox or duck.

"Kids touch it and want to feel it and know about the different body parts," she explains. "They really enjoy the hands-on (activities)."

Alanak has been working at the centre since 1999 and this spring, the 40-year-old mother of four graduated from Aurora College's Early Childhood Development certificate program.

For 10 years, Alanak worked full time and studied in the evening, all while taking care of her family.

"It feels good that I've finally accomplished something even though it was a lot of work after working hours," she said. "Just to see all the graduates completing something, I believe we all felt the same way ... I never felt proud of myself for something before."

Last summer she decided to take a year off from the centre, but a month after the pre-school started she found herself antsy to get back to work.

"I'm always a busy person and like to be working, said Alanak. When I found myself trying to take that year off, I was feeling depressed and missing the kids so much. Just hearing their voices makes my day. The kids' laughter and talking, being there with them makes me feel good that I'm part of them in their lives," she said.

"I feel very lucky to see all these children learn and grow and move on to kindergarten."

By mid-September, she was back at work.

Alanak says she isn't the only person teaching. She's also re-connecting with drum dancing with the help of a five-year-old student who is showing his teacher the traditional style.

"He's learned some songs so when we're drum dancing together, he helps me, too. It works both ways," she said. "He feels really proud of himself that he's teaching me. We're still learning, no matter how old we are."