Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Mar 13/02) - Inuit culture took centre stage in Rankin Inlet this past month as part of Alaittuq High's Heritage Fair.

The competition is held in schools across Canada and culminates with a 10-day national Heritage Fair in St. John's, Newfoundland, this coming July.

The trio of Donna Tatty, Shelly Kingmeatok and Tracey Okpatauyak captured top spot in the Rankin fair with their project on the dog team.

Robin Papak finished in second place with her efforts on the history of ceramics in Rankin Inlet.

Papak, Tatty, Kingmeatok and Okpatauyak will now enter their projects in the territory-wide Heritage Fair which will be hosted on the Internet.

The winner of that contest will travel to St. John's, Newfoundland, for the 10 day national fair in mid-July.

Sue Diederichs teaches social studies, science, and career and life management for grades 9 through 12 at Alaittuq high school.

Diederichs says about 17 students took part in the Heritage Fair, representing the school's Grade 9 and 9B classes.

She says the fair is unique in that all the projects provide the students with the opportunity to focus on their cultural heritage.

"The students could go and research anything from their cultural heritage, ranging from syllabics to polar bear hunting -- anything they were interested in," says Diederichs.

"It's pretty exciting to realize whomever wins the Internet portion of the competition will get to spend a week in the South with winners from across the country.

"They'll learn about many different aspects of Canadian heritage."

The 2002 Heritage Fair marked the first time students from Alaittuq high school have competed in the event.

Diederichs says the students were glad to be working on subject matter they selected.

"It wasn't me telling them what they had to study and they seemed to enjoy that aspect of it.

"They were happy working on a project that focused on their culture and heritage."

Diederichs says the students also enjoyed having the opportunity to be creative and use their own designs.

"They wrote what they wanted to write. I gave them some direction, but I tried to leave it up them as much as I could and they really responded to that."