From traditional games, to sewing, throat singing, drum dancing and life skills -- Tusarvik is one the region's top schools in blending culture with curriculum.

Leonie Aissaoui is in her 10th year teaching at Tusarvik.

She says activities promoting Inuit culture and tradition have always been one of the school's top priorities.

"We had a day this past month for a group of elders to come into the school to play games and tell stories to the students," says Aissaoui.

"Now we're getting a group of students ready to go out on the land seal hunting.

"Those are just two examples of the types of monthly themes or activities we promote at the school."

Aissaoui says, like every Kivalliq school, Tusarvik works hard to promote its cultural program.

She says the number and calibre of the activities vary from year to year, often depending on the makeup of the school's staff.

"The calibre of the program can depend on what the teachers bring with them to the job.

"But, regardless of whose on staff, we always bring elders into the school to spend time with the children and things like that."

Aissaoui says while the school does receive fairly strong support from the community for its cultural programs from year to year, some hamlet leaders take a more proactive approach.

"When Donat Milortok was mayor here, he felt very strongly about having elders spend a lot of time in our school.

"He called me to his office to talk about the program and he also wrote a funding proposal in support of the elders' visits.

"It was nice to see a mayor take that kind of interest in the students and our school.

"He also pushed very hard to get our school extension, which everyone was so thankful for."