Arctic Bay (May 09/05) - Elders in Arctic Bay were in two classrooms recently, encouraging students to learn by doing than solely by taking down notes.

It's no surprise they emphasized the importance of tactile learning, giving a chance for students to learn through touch and feel, rather than teaching solely with notes written down on paper and the chalkboard.

Mucktar Alumalik recently spoke to college and Grade 9 students in Arctic Bay about the importance of life-long learning. - photo courtesy of Ron Elliot

Elders Mucktar Alumalik and Qapik Attagutsiak spoke to college and Grade 9 students about the importance of life-long learning.

For Sandra Demcheson, who is training at Arctic College to become a teacher, the experience reinforced how important it is that elders pass knowledge down to today's youth.

"I really want to have elders in the classroom," she said.

She used the opportunity to ask questions like how to deal with unruly children.

"A child is not born a bully," she was told by the elders. "It's the environment they grow up in."

When Alumalik and Attagutsiak grew up, they never stepped inside a classroom.

Instead, they spent their time on the land, learning how to hunt and sew by observing their parents and family perform these roles.

They also spoke about how daily life is now strictly governed by the clock, while before time was more flexible.

"In this day and age, we're controlled by time. If you follow the clock, you'll have a good life," Demcheson said, relaying the elders' message.

School attendance levels tend to plunge with the arrival of daylight in the North, but the elders said future prosperity depends on youth staying in class during that time when it's needed.

"Be in school when you're required to be in school," they said.

Demcheson said she was heartened to hear that the elders were willing to help out and speak in classes more often.

"They really enjoyed talking about traditional knowledge."

Funding was provided by the Kakavik Association. Other adult education programs are planned in other communities in Nunavut.