Baker Lake (Mar 20/06) - The latest phase of the Northern Studies program at Jonah Amitnaaq secondary school in Baker Lake may have been its most successful to date.

Grade 10 A student Kevin Iksiktaaryuk displays the pana he made as part of the Northern Studies program at Jonah Amitnaaq secondary school in Baker Lake. - photo courtesy of Craig Vincent

Teacher Craig Vincent said the most recent group of students to take part in the program did an outstanding job on their ulu and pana projects.

Once the nine Grade 10A students had designed and created their own tools, they were taught iglu building on the land by Robert Inukpak.

Vincent said Northern Studies has become extremely popular among the students.

He said the program is but one in a series of cultural initiatives that have proven themselves a success at the school.

"Jonah Amitnaaq school is one of the leaders in Nunavut for its quantity of cultural-inclusion activities," said Vincent.

"The programs here go above and beyond what's often expected because our entire staff supports them.

"There is a strong desire among parents, elders, teachers and students for the application of Inuit Qaujiniajatuqangit principals away from what's considered to be our concrete curriculum.

"We strive very hard to bring more cultural relevancy into our educational program every year, and the results of that effort are surfacing in a positive light."

Vincent said a driving force behind the program is that it's often the first time students create their own ulu or pana, and then go on the land to use them in a traditional setting that's culturally relevant.

And that, he said, is the beauty of the program.

"The desire within everyone - no matter who you are or what culture you come from - is for connectivity and a sense of place or belonging that a program like this can provide.

"In many aspects, the program is not about the objects we choose to create.

"The experience transcends an ulu or pana and becomes far more complete.

"The students grow throughout the process, from the initial comparison of tool designs to the desire to be out on the land learning together."