Marrying Inuit knowledge with contemporary government
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Apr 30/01) - To a cynical observer, it might seem as if the government is doing little more than paying lip service to the concept of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, or Inuit traditional knowledge.
One need only look to the budget allocated to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for the last three years. Perhaps the department where Inuit knowledge would have its strongest foothold, CLEY receives a meagre one per cent of the budget year after year.
But, Carmen Levi, the deputy minister of that department, says the government is doing its best to implement IQ and make it a part of daily government operations.
"They are taking it seriously," said Levi.
"IQ is foremost in people's minds."
Defined by Levi as the Inuit way of life, the way Inuit act and look at the world, as well as the way knowledge is passed from one generation to the next, IQ is contemporary, but also incorporates the practices of the elders.
Levi said the goal with IQ was to see government policy developed in such a way that it made sense and was understood by the people it was designed to serve.
"It's our way of life," said Levi."
Task force struck
Prior to their formation, the government was committed to ensuring that Inuit knowledge becomes a part of its departments' policies and practices. An example used by Levi was the Department of Education's attempts to bring elders into classrooms in Nunavut.
"They're trying to create an environment for elders to teach without certification ... so they can pass on their knowledge," explained Levi.
Levi said a task force struck last November will make recommendations to Cley Minister Peter Kattuk on how best to combine IQ and government policy.
"Right now, they're just defining themselves and their priorities and how they're going to work with the minister and the cabinet," she said.
"Hopefully in the next six months, they'll have something concrete."
Making recommendations
Simon Awa, the co-chair of the six-member task force, has the job of making those recommendation.
They're working to create a workplan, identify any stumbling blocks and assess where each government department is in formulating IQ policy. That workplan will be submitted to Kattuk for approval in the next few months.
Awa said the goal was to have a framework that would leave room for each department to mold IQ as they see it relating to their mandates.
"We want to marry Inuit knowledge into modern, contemporary ways of governing," said Awa.
Some people question whether the government is serious about implementing IQ.
Paul Quassa, the president of Nunavut Tunngavik, said he thought there was more talk than action.
"A lot more could be done," said Quassa.
