Money missing ingredient to expanding Inuit education
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jan 29/01) - Everyone attending a territorial conference last week agreed that expanding Inuit language and culture education is important.
Getting the money to make it happen remains a stumbling block.
The key recommendations coming out of the Education Leadership Conference were how to implement cultural and language education in Nunavut schools.
Education Minister Peter Kilabuk told the district education authority chairs, principals, government and Inuit association representatives at the conference they have the government's support in implementing Inuit Quajimatuqangit (IQ) in schools.
"We have all come to agree the biggest theme, IQ, is a very strong foundation that has carried us to where we are today and where we would like to build from," he said after his closing remarks.
That process includes implementation of a new Education Act that would implement IQ, Inuit traditional knowledge, into classrooms. It's expected to go to third reading no later than this fall.
Conference delegates favoured having elders teach culture and language but Kilabuk said government can't afford to do that alone.
"At this time we don't have enough money to bring in elders on a full-time basis," Kilabuk said.
"I will admit the money provided at this time is not enough.
"We are trying to draw in partners, organizations we told we needed help," he added, citing Inuit organizations. "The GN does not have access to some of the programs the Inuit organizations do."
Many of the educators who attended the conference from across the territory found it productive.
"It's always good to be in a situation with other educators to talk about these issues," said Cape Dorset's Peter Pitseolak high school principal James Parsons.
