Iqaluit (May 05/03) - First eight pages were ripped out and now an elementary school workbook has been pulled out of schools across Nunavut.

Let's Visit Nunavut was published in 1996 by S&S Learning Materials of Napanee, Ont., written for students from Grades 2 to 4.

Kathy Smith, chair of Iqaluit District Education Authority, said the pages which contain offensive information in Let's Visit Nunavut were ripped out. She also said the DEA and the Government of Nunavut will work with the book's publisher to make sure revisions are satisfactory. - Christine Kay/NNSL photo

It was only when parents of students at Joamie school in Iqaluit complained about passages describing Inuit as people without jobs who rely on welfare and abuse drugs or alcohol that the problem came to light.

"Over the years the Inuit people have had to change their way of life enormously. Their lifestyle that had worked for generations was no longer the right way to live," said the book.

The DEA said the book should never have gone into the classroom without being reviewed by education authorities.

"It was unfortunate that that happened. It should have been reviewed prior to getting into the classrooms," said DEA chairperson Kathy Smith. "We have taken the books out of the schools but the bigger issue is in regards to the information students are getting across Canada.

Solski, marketing director for S&S Learning Materials, said the author of the workbook is very upset over what the company calls a mistake. Author Ruth Solski is the founder and president of S&S Learning Materials.

"The book was written in 1996 and at that time the author pulled five or six resources on Nunavut together and re-wrote the information for children to understand," explained Lisa Solski.

Publishing dates of resources listed at the back of the workbook range from 1922 to 1979.

The company has pulled the book off the market and plans to revise its contents with the help of the Nunavut government.

Lisa Solski said the company will not issue a nationwide advisory concerning the errors.

"It's up to the schools and the districts to decided what to do with it. If people who have purchased the book want the revised pages, we'd be happy to fax them a copy," said Solski.

S&S Learning Materials has been providing educational materials for more than 15 years. They have over 700 products for teachers to choose from.

What Southern students learn about Nunavut

Knowing the basics

Saskatoon, Sask.

In Saskatchewan, students have the opportunity to learn about the territory anywhere from kindergarten to Grade 10.

But, as Kim Newlove, co-ordinator of curriculum and instruction for the Saskatoon Public School Division said, how much the students learn varies.

"In Grade 7, there's a very strong likelihood that children would learn about life in Nunavut," she explained.

Jeremy Hozjan, a Grade 8 teacher at Silverwood Heights elementary school, said that's not a lot.

Two years ago, Hozjan took 12 students to Kugluktuk.

"I taught them everything I knew about Nunavut and even still, both them and I were quite surprised to see what we saw," he explained.

A superficial view

Crossfield, Alta.

At W.G. Murdoch school, 50 kilometres m. north of Calgary, high school social studies teacher Val Berreth said Nunavut is part of the unit which looks at regions in Canada and their populations, climates and resources.

"We don't spend a lot of time on (Nunavut). It's very superficial. It doesn't give you a real feel for the region," she said.

Berreth said she hopes consultation currently ongoing with Alberta's department of education for curriculum changes will make a difference.

"We need to look at the importance of this region to Canadian culture and Canada's economy. It's a vast area with a lot of importance."

A glimpse of hope

Niagara Falls, Ont.

At Battlefield school, Grade 4 teacher Marilyn Demers said students still talk about April 1, 1999 when the students and staff celebrated the formation of the new territory. They built Inuksuks and learned facts about Nunavut.

"When the Queen came to Canada in October, we saw her arrive in Iqaluit with the buildings in the background and the culture. The students were totally captivated," she said.

Demers teaches students about Nunavut through various resources. She said they talk about Inuit people wanting a balance with nature, about permafrost. They learn that if someone becomes seriously ill they are flown to the nearest hospital and are given examples of Inuktitut.