RANKIN INLET - Thread is flying and ulus are flashing as more than 20 Grade 12 students take part in a traditional skills program in Rankin Inlet this month.

Israel Aliyak works on his design under the watchful eye of Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre youth co-ordinator Angela Panika, as fellow student Nathan Tulugak, back right, awaits his turn during a traditional program in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik students are each making a pair of sealskin mitts.

The program is being funded by the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre.

Teacher Harold Peach said the program is part of the aulataaqtut course, which is offered in grades 10 to 12.

He said the Grade 12 module focuses mainly on the history of Inuit culture.

"We've had several elders come in and talk about such things as early Inuit child-rearing practices, and how young people gained skills by watching their parents and then practising what they saw," said Peach.

"But you need to get outside of the book once and awhile in favour of practical experience.

"A number of students wanted to learn some sewing, so we started with small dolls.

"Some of the boys were a bit hesitant, but by the time we got to the mitts they were almost all participating."

Peach submitted a funding proposal to the friendship centre for the course.

He said the centre purchased all the material and arranged for elders to attend classes and teach the students.

"We started on Dec. 2 and we hope to have all the mitts completed by Christmas because some students would like to present them to a parent, brother or sister.

"The program fits in well with the principle of skills and knowledge acquisition.

"It's the type of program I hope we see more of in the coming new year.

"The students are participating well without any discipline problems and producing nice results, so it's all positive from what I see."

Friendship centre youth co-ordinator Angela Panika said she was actually looking for a traditional project to get the centre involved with when Peach's proposal arrived.

She said she was able to purchase all the necessary material for the course during the Kivalliq Trade Show.

"I'm very pleased with how the students are doing in the program," said Panika.

"A few of them are, pretty well, finished with their mitts, while others are still working on the lining.

"A couple of the students are already pretty good seamstresses, having learned from a family member, and they're already trimming their mitts.

"For others, this is their first attempt at sewing something and they're just chugging along, but they're all working hard and putting in a lot of effort."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.