Yellowknife (May 06/05) - Brendan Baillargeon would rather be in the bush trapping and hunting with his family than in a classroom with books and teachers.

The quiet Aboriginal student spent three years living on the land when he was young.

Now the 12-year-old from Dettah struggles in his Grade 6 class and has trouble reading. There is one subject he seems to like and even excel at though and that's art.

"Every time the teacher teaches I open my book and draw," says Baillargeon.

Art isn't part of the curriculum at Mildred Hall school, though many teachers incorporate it into their classes.

Since starting work at the school this year, substitute teacher and art major Roberta Hickey has noticed the magic transformation of her students when they pick up paints or pencils.

"Some of the kids I've noticed are really talented and they don't get a chance to do it," she says, especially the Aboriginal students that make up the majority of the student body.

"Some kids who drive me crazy in class will sit down and paint all day," she says during an afternoon soapstone carving lesson from artist John Sabourin.

Sabourin, a Yellowknife artist, says spending an afternoon in the studio by himself is "almost therapeutic."

He sees the same effect in students creating art.

Hickey watches Baillargeon crouch over his wolf carving, etching away with a piece of sandpaper.

"It's something he feels confident in and he's not behind in that," she says.

Art exhibition

Hickey's art lessons that she squeezes into her class time are so popular that she's decided to stage an art exhibition in June. Parents who will be at the school for an evening of the arts will be able to tour through a showing of acrylic paintings, sculptures and even batik work that many of the 260 kids have worked on this year.