Rankin Inlet (May 16/05) - Elders Mary Anawak and Eva Nukapiak are helping children at Leo Ussak elementary school develop their cultural skills.

The respected elders have been working with 240 students in Grades 1 to 4 since the Christmas break.

The result is more than 200 wall hangings now adorning homes in Rankin Inlet.

The classes are part of a cultural inclusion program being taught at the elementary school.

The students were excited when they found out they would each be making their very own wall hanging, said Leo Ussak co-principal Sarah Ayaruak.

Anawak and Nukapiak were joined by the school's Inuktitut teacher, Rosemary Sandy, to make the various patterns for the hangings, Ayaruak said.

Each student was allowed to select their favourite design from patterns featuring an iglu, walrus, caribou and numerous other Kivalliq themes.

"Once they chose the pattern, the instructors traced it for them and the students got to cut it out and place it on the wall hanging with a little help from the elders," said Ayaruak.

Students were shown how to pin, stitch and complete the edges of the material.

"Once they were all finished with the wall hangings, they were allowed to take them home to their families before moving on to making pin cushions."

Special recognition

The school held a ceremony to present Anawak and Nukapiak with certificates of appreciation on behalf of the students for all they had learned during the program.

"During my afternoon classes, my students were always talking to me about how much they were looking forward to finishing their wall hangings," Ayaruak said.

"You could tell they were really taking pride in something they were creating by themselves."