Arviat (May 19/04) - Southern Ontario received a taste of Inuit culture earlier this month, thanks to a group of Arviat students.

Six junior Arviat Badminton Club members travelled to Hamilton as part of a cultural exchange with Hillfield-Strathallan College, an independent K-12 school.

Qitiqliq high teachers Scott Monahan and Anne Guyatt chaperoned the trip.

Guyatt said the goals of the trip were to broaden the students' understanding of each other's cultures, play badminton and experience attractions found in Hamilton and its surrounding areas.

She said the Arviat youth billeted with students from the Hillfield-Strathallan badminton team, which gave them the chance to make new friends and experience a big-city school environment.

"Our youth really enjoyed playing with Hillfield-Strathallan's badminton team," said Guyatt.

"Two of our members, 18-year-old twins Esther and Amanda Owlijoot, gave an amazing throat-singing performance in front of about 1,000 students and teachers.

"The student body was captivated by the performance."

Inuit games

The Owlijoots joined with the rest of the group (Thomas Aggark, Cliff Shamee, Billy-Jo Kaayak and Peter Koomak) to introduce Grade 2 and 3 students at Hillfield to traditional Inuit games.

"The high kicks, hand pull and leg wrestling were very popular amongst the younger children. All six of our students were great ambassadors for Nunavut during their stay in Hamilton."

Guyatt said the Arviat students travelled to Niagara Falls and sailed close to nature's thundering masterpiece on board the Maid of the Mist.

She said four of the six were fascinated when they came across a horse during their tour, the first time in their lives they had seen one.

"They were also amazed by a parade of about 200 motorcycles, which just happened to drive right by us.

"And it was exciting to visit Toronto's CN Tower and Canada's Wonderland.

"In fact, when we asked what their favourite part of the trip was, they all said riding the roller-coaster at Canada's Wonderland."

Thanks for the help

Guyatt said the students worked hard fundraising for their adventure.

She said the trip was, definitely, the experience of a lifetime for the students.

"The community was very supportive of their fundraising efforts.

"We'd all like to thank Qitiqliq high, the Arviat District Education Authority, Bayside Bed and Breakfast, Northern stores, Eskimo Point Lumber, Kiluk Sewing Centre, Canada Post and Arviat hamlet council for their support."