Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Jan 25/06) - A program based on curriculum developed in Baker Lake is proving itself to be a valuable addition to Jonah Amitnaaq secondary school.

Loraine Tunnuq made this ulu during the final unit of her Northern Studies 15 class at Jonah Amitnaaq secondary school in Baker Lake. - photo courtesy of Craig Vincent

Craig Vincent teaches the Northern Studies 15 program to Grade 10 students.

Vincent says the program is a different course altogether than the Nunavut curriculum studies the students covered in 2004-05.

"This program is based on locally-developed curriculum that covers three units," says Vincent.

"The course covers half the school year, with one group going from the beginning of school until Christmas and the second going from January until the end of the semester."

More than 20 students took the first course this school year and 12 more are in the second group.

The program has eight classes in a six-day cycle, guaranteeing plenty of work to go around.

Vincent uses one unit to cover the history of Inuit migration into North America and some of the relevant theories that go with it.

The second unit focuses on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the events leading up to it.

Vincent says those two units demand a lot of book work and Internet research.

He says most of the research is done online in a seminar-type format, helping students develop computer skills as they go.

"As an augmentation to the study-and-research aspects of the curriculum, I usually end the program by allowing them to create a pana or an ulu.

"Once finished, I encourage them to either keep it for themselves or make a gift of what they created.

"The focus is more on the process of creation than the object itself."

Vincent says while there's something positive to be said about book work, there's also great benefits to be gained by a more practical, hands-on experience, which he's a strong proponent of.

He says students enjoy the shop experience more than book work, but the groups accomplish both.

"The curriculum leaves quite a bit of freedom in developing the actual course.

"I create the student assignments, or projects, based on the platform of the prescribed curriculum.

"So, it does give one the opportunity to be a little bit diverse in their approach."