Cambridge Bay (Dec 06/04) - Elders in Cambridge Bay say the current sex education curriculum isn't teaching young people enough about sex.

"When the subject comes up in the school (the elders) would like to see an elder or elders be present when they talk about sex education," said Eva Otokiak, an Inuinnaqtun interpreter/translator in Cambridge Bay who interviewed 55 Cambridge Bay elders over the summer on a wide variety of topics for Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson.

Frank Analok, seen here in 2002, was one of 55 Inuinnaqtun-speaking elders Eva Otokiak interviewed about sex education and other topics during the summer of 2004 in Cambridge Bay. - NNSL file photo

Otokiak conducted one-on-one and group interviews with male and female elders.

"Even if they would need an interpreter, they would like to be part of it. They were concerned."

The elders don't know all the content of sex education classes today, but Otokiak said the elders feel the message is not getting across.

Last week Peterson tabled a document containing the various comments from elders in his community translated by Otokiak in the legislative assembly.

Teaching sex ed and birth control was high on the elders' list.

"The baby boom is getting out of hand. It's the elders who get caught in the middle when a child is left with them," they told Otokiak.

In an interview last week, Otokiak expanded on those notes she took from the elders.

"We're still having babies coming up without even a parent knowing that his or her daughter is getting pregnant," she said.

Sex education in Nunavut starts with students aged 12-14. Nunavut uses the same curriculum used in the NWT.

Parents in Nunavut must sign a note whether or not they want their kids to participate in sex education classes, which teach protected sex, how to put condoms on properly -- they use a wooden prop in many classes named "Woody" -- oral sex, birth control, what sexually transmitted diseases are and how to avoid them, and about the responsibility of having a child.

But even in this day and age, many people, especially young students, still find talking about sex embarrassing.

Wouldn't an older person in the class make a student even more nervous?

Otokiak doesn't think so.

"They've heard about it from other people. But nobody ever really sat down with an elder before and talked about these things," said Otokiak. "Some might still be scared to talk about these things. I was scared, too, when I was young. Now I wish that when I was back in my teens I had been more open with my family, elders, anyone who would listen."

Alan Sim, chair of the Ikaluktutiak District Education Authority, defended the sex education curriculum being used, but said that whenever you have elders in the schools talking to the students, "It's always a good thing."

Finding funding to pay elders can be tough for schools. It is not a requirement that every school in Nunavut have an elder on staff.

However, many schools set aside a certain honoraria each year to pay an elder or elders to come in for various classes.

It comes down to what each school wants.

And in Cambridge Bay, the elders want to be involved.

"They want to reach the young people about this delicate situation," said Otokiak. "There are still youth out there with questions, but they really hold back in asking."

Peterson supports more elders in schools, but he said sex education ultimately should start at home.

"Our schools and teachers can only do so much," said Peterson. "Parents have to have candid conversations with their kids."

Elders' comments:

The following is a transcription of translated Inuinnaqtun comments elders made during interviews in Cambridge Bay this summer.

They would like to be in the same place with young people now more than ever as they know the language (Inuinnaqtun dialect) is failing.

There should be a place open to them and the youth, and even younger children, in both schools where they can mingle with them and talk.

When they go south for medical reasons they want an Inuinnaqtun-speaking escort. They need a voice, and the people who are there for them are doing other duties and cannot be there for them all the time.

Now that we have a Nunavut Government why not let the economic development departments order the stones for the carvers or any artist supplies that might be too expensive for one to purchase?

As for health care, the people who are hired should at least be around for a long time and get to know the place and the people, instead of being here for a short time and leave.