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New Gwich'in curriculum Tribal council involved in development
of study module
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, August 29, 2013
INUVIK
High school students in Inuvik and the surrounding schools in the Gwich'in Settlement Area will have access to new curriculum this fall.
Patrick Tomlinson, the director of inter-governmental relations for the Gwich'in Tribal Council, says a new curriculum emphasizing Gwich'in culture and history will be available in schools around the region. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
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The Gwich'in Tribal Council (GTC) has put the finishing touches on a new study module that will deal with Gwich'in history and culture.
The announcement that the curriculum was ready to be introduced was made at the Gwich'in Assembly Aug. 22 by the tribal council's intergovernmental relations director Patrick Tomlinson.
"Vice-president Norman Snowshoe has made education a top priority during his term," Tomlinson said. "As part of that, he asked the staff to build a Gwich'in curriculum for the high schools in the settlement area."
There are three schools in that area, with only Tsiigehtcic not having a high school. Students from there attend East Three Secondary School in Inuvik.
"There's going to be different components," Tomlinson said. "There's an on-the-land component on traditional uses and culture. There's a component on the land-claim agreement that basically puts the agreement in language that's more accessible. And there's an inter-generational component focused on connecting elders and youth.
"The whole thing is going to be packaged so that it's available as an online website so that it can be accessed whenever and however you want," he added.
The study module will be "available to everybody," Tomlinson said
"The focus is really on getting it into the schools at the high school level and to try to increase the understanding and access to the important facts in Gwich'in history and politics by the young people," he said.
The initiative was applauded by the delegates at the assembly, particularly when Tomlinson said the curriculum had been designed by Gwich'in teachers.
Herbert Blake, the chief of the Inuvik Native Band, said he liked the idea. However, he added that "it was only a start.
"It's a good initiative and a starting point," Blake said. "However, it's not really enough.
"I look forward to the day when as Gwich'ins we might have our own schools and teach our language and culture. I think a lot of our young people today don't know the history of our people the way people my age and my generation do."
Blake said that while he was growing up, he frequently heard, "If you don't know where you came from, how do you know where you're going?"
The same applies to today's students, he suggested.
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