IQALUIT - For two Iqaluit students, partnering up for a school project on Inuit dog sledding not only meant they learned a lot about the subject but also a little bit about their ancestry.

Inuksuk School Grade 10 student Milu Akavak in Iqaluit stands with the project she did on various aspects of Inuit culture. It was on display with other projects at the school's celebration of learning on Jan. 21. - Emily Ridlington/NNSL photo

"My grandfather taught his father how to dogsled," said Inuksuk High School Grade 11 student Eelai Uniuqsaraq in reference to her friend, fellow Grade 11 student Simon DeMaio.

The pair's project was on display with approximately 130 to 150 students' work at the celebration of learning held in the gymnasium on Jan. 21.

DeMaio and Uniuqsaraq said they learned many things including the different types of hitches. Uniuqsaraq explained the tandem hitch is used mostly in Yukon and Alaska and is more centralized because the dogs have to go around trees, whereas the fan hitch is more common in Nunavut.

"During spring, we have thin ice, so they can branch out and the weight is distributed evenly," Uniuqsaraq said.

Social studies teacher Kim Masson said this was the first evening of its kind at the school and was designed to be the culmination of a semester's worth of effort. The celebration, which was open to the public, was the opportunity for assessment.

Students were graded on the look of the project, the quality of the content, their research skills, how well they were able to respond to questions and how they presented themselves.

"It's labour intensive but I think they've really enjoyed it and I'm really proud," Masson said.

The Grade 9 students projects focused on heritage as the winners from the school will go on to the Pan Territorial heritage fair in Yellowknife.

Grade 9 student Metusalie Inookee did his project on photography, looking at the history and the content of various photographs.

"I think it's really cool as you can look at other things when you were not there," he said.

Most of the pictures on his bristol board were old family photographs from hunting trips.

Some of the Grade 10 students made their own political parties and ran a mock election.

Grade 10 student Milu Akavak's project was on Inuit culture with a focus on throat singing.

"I think learning about this stuff is really good; nowadays teenagers aren't into our culture," she said.

Masson said the Grade 12 students' projects were more in-depth. This was the first time the seniors at the school had done project-based assessments in a pilot through the Department of Education.

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