Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik pushes literacy
Gjoa Haven school putting 1,000 books in each of its classrooms
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Monday, December 5, 2016
UQSUQTUUQ/GJOA HAVEN
Books are on Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik's wish list this year.
The school is looking to build individual libraries of 1,000 books in each of its classrooms as part of its newly developed literacy action plan.
Sheneil Oogaq, left, Candace Eleheetook and Sheridan Kamookak work on their literacy skills at Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik in Gjoa Haven. - photo courtesy of Emma Pauloosie |
"Our hope it to create a community of readers," said Ed Seymour, the teacher in charge of the project.
"We're looking at getting as many books as we can."
But not just any books. The project aims to build libraries that are more relevant and engaging, as well as culturally inclusive. And most importantly, at the right reading level.
Right now Seymour said it would be a fair assessment to say there are 100 books in each of the school's nine classrooms.
The action plan, which started in October, is part of a community-based literacy engagement initiative. The school has started inviting parents to an afternoon of literacy activities each month, as well as for literacy lunches where students and parents share a meal and read together. Seymour also has plans to work with the local radio station on starting a reading and storytelling program in both Inuktitut and English.
"The big picture is to create more engagement with literacy between the students and their parents. Trying to build the triangular relationship between the school, the students and the parents."
The school is now seeking out new avenues to fund its book project.
Plan presented in legislative assembly
That's why Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak presented the plan at the fall legislative assembly, asking Education Minister Paul Quassa what funding options were available for these sorts of community-led initiatives.
"It is not just an investment in the books, but in transforming the lives of students and families," said Akoak on Nov. 3.
"Through improved literacy, it is hoped that the students will thrive and be successful in education and in business and in the community. Unfortunately the current literacy budget does not provide sufficient funds for this project."
The school has already seen an increase in attendance since it was upgraded last year.
Quassa wasn't aware of what specific funding this project would fall under, but wanted to pursue the request.
"I am fully supportive of any literacy programs and requests for more reading materials for our schools. So let us support our schools by acquiring books for the libraries."
He did highlight department efforts for starting up a school literacy coach program and plans to create more effective Inuktitut reading material for elementary level students. As of yet Quassa said the department only has plans to make plans for upgrading Inuktitut language curriculum at higher grade levels in the way they are doing for elementary grades.
Language specialist lends a hand
In the meantime, Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik's Inuit language specialist Lorraine Pakiqnak is filling in those gaps for Gjoa Haven students.
"I want them to know how to speak in Inuktitut and write in Inuktitut," she said.
But the school has no books published in the region's dialect.
"We have lots of Inuktitut books but they are mostly from the Baffin region and Coppermine (Kugluktuk) dialects," said Pakiqnak.
"When I read them I change them to our dialect."
She said it is always interesting to hear the nuances in Inuit languages across the territory, but that individual dialects are still important.
"We do still want to keep our dialect and our writing, the way we write Inuktitut."
To keep that dialect going Pakiqnak writes her own worksheets, and encourages students to learn the syllabic way of writing, instead of using the Roman alphabet.
