Students celebrate their heritage
Grade 5 students complete research projects on Nunavut history
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Friday, June 17, 2016
IQALUIT
Aliija Hughes-Wade explains that Inuit believe the soul of living creatures live on after the animal has died.
Genevieve Lloyd, left, Akutaq Williamson Bathory and Jacob Nungaq show off traditional Inuit clothing. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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"Inuit hunters practise rituals to protect the spirit of the seal and show respect for the hunted animal," she said while showing her display on seal hunting.
Hughes-Wade was one of dozens of Grade 5 students at Joamie School in Iqaluit who participated in the school's heritage fair. Students studied all sorts of Nunavut history, from Sir John Franklin to traditional games to types of plants found in the territory.
"(Inuit) don't believe in killing animals for no reason," said Hughes-Wade. "Inuit hunters put everything to use and don't like to waste much."
She's hunted a seal, too.
"I'm not sure how to explain it but it was kind of hard for me because you have to be really quiet and you have to be careful," she said, adding it tastes good and is full of Omega 3 nutrients.
Jaxon Ellsworth, holding a homemade craft version of Sir John Franklin's ship, said he enjoyed learning about the explorer.
Naulluq Lambe worked on a project about inukshuks.
"If you destroy an inukshuk, then you'll get bad luck," she said.
Her partner on the project, Bernard Nowdlak, said inukshuks are sacred and often given as a gift.
Genevieve Lloyd did her project on Inuit traditional clothing.
"Caribou skin was a very good choice of clothing because it was light," she said.
Her partner, Akutaq Williamson Bathory, said she likes the fashion style.
Laura Kilabuk did her project on hunting. She said she's caught a seal, ptarmigan, rabbit and goose herself.
Her partner, Tasiana Shirley, found out a lot of things about hunting she didn't know, such as that people can hunt foxes.
"My brother actually caught a seal before," she said.
Hayley Groves, on a project about Inuit traditional games, explained that back in the old days hunters would play games to entertain themselves or use them as a means to welcome visitors or old friends.
For his project on iglus, Kalan Collins built a miniature one out of modelling clay.
"Iglus could keep Inuit really warm overnight if they're hunting or if they lived in them," he said. "It's very hard to build an iglu."
Students proudly recited the facts and information they had spent weeks researching for parents during an afternoon visit June 8.
