Inuvik (Mar 10/06) - After reading and translating the children's classic Henny Penny to her class for years, immersion kindergarten teacher Sandra Ipana is finally creating a version of the book in Inuvialuktun.

Inuvialuktun kindergarten immersion teacher Sandra Ipana with a copy of Henny Penny. Because of her efforts, the book will soon be translated into Inuvialuktun. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

"I'm just following the format, but trying to use local animals where I can," she said while working on the Arctic version.

For those unfamiliar with the story, it revolves around a hen who is struck on the head by an acorn, making her believe the sky is falling. She then summons her feathered friends with a mission of informing the king of her great discovery.

Ipana plans to substitute a ptarmigan (qarriq) for Henny Penny, a crow (tuluqaq) for Cocky Locky and an eagle (tingmiqpak) for Turkey Lurkey. The duck (qauguk) and goose (kanguq) characters will remain as such because, of course, ducks and geese are members of the animal kingdom in these parts.

As well, Ipana and other elementary school staff are working to make picture dictionaries and other material to assist with Inuvialuktun instruction at the school.

"Even though I was raised in residential school I went home every summer and we never spoke English then," she said when asked how she was able to maintain her language, which she was taught by her mother.

After studying education in the Yukon, Ipana returned to Inuvik, where she has been teaching the Inuvialuktun immersion kindergarten class at SAMS for the past 12 years.

"Rosie Albert mentored Lena Rogers and myself before I started this," said Ipana. "And it was a real compliment from Rosie when she felt confident to leave the language in our hands to teach."

But with the passing of time and a lack of opportunity to speak it, Ipana admits she often has difficult moments.

"I can understand every word, but some I have to really think about it because I don't speak it enough," she explained.

"But the DEA (District Education Authority) has given money for an elder to come in once a week and speak to me for my own development, and so the kids can hear an actual conversation."

Ipana says while the kids are "picking it up," they still have a habit of answering her back in English.

With 160 to 170 students enroled in some form of Inuvialuktun instruction at the elementary school, Ipana's efforts will only strengthen the curriculum and its aim of helping to restore the language.

"It is getting through to kids," said Inuvialuktun language assistant Donna Johns. "They are learning to put sentences together and they are not shy to speak it anymore."