Baker Lake (May 10/06) - More than 30 students and staff members from Jonah Amitnaaq and Rachel Arngnammaktiq schools raised their voices in support of Education Week in Baker Lake this past month.

The students and staff members took part in a walk around the community, displaying banners and chanting slogans of support for education in Nunavut.

This year's theme was Investing in Nunavut's Future.

Teacher Lynn Goodwin said the theme was prominently displayed during the walk.

"The whole idea behind the project was to make the community aware of the fact it was Education Week in Nunavut and to encourage them to support education," Goodwin said.

"I came up with the original idea and the students strongly supported the project.

"It was an incentive put forth by the Social Studies 11 group, who made all the signs for the walk.

"And not only did they physically make the signs, but they also translated them into Inuktitut to make it a bilingual event."

Goodwin said the students were quite vocal during the walk, chanting the week's theme and other slogans to bring attention to the project.

She said people were watching the group and looking out their windows to see what was going on.

"We succeeded in attracting attention to Education Week and that was our primary focus.

"The kids really enjoyed it and it gave them a lesson on the importance of voicing an issue in order to draw attention to it."

Goodwin said the students have a stake in making people realize the importance of investing in education.

She said the project made them feel like they have a role within the system and, perhaps more importantly, a voice in Nunavut education that goes beyond their own learning.

"This was an opportunity that allowed them to use that voice to let the people of the community know they support their own education as students.

"Having a special week for something is great, but it doesn't mean anything unless you're able to draw attention to it.

"And that's what these kids did."