IQALUIT - The room on the top floor of the Unikkaarvik Visitors Centre in Iqaluit on an afternoon in March after school is quite noisy. Children lay on the floor with fabric, thread and pattern pieces strewn about.

Lena Sagiatook works on the inside of her sealskin mitts in late March at the Unikkaarvik Visitors Centre in Iqaluit. - Emily Ridlington/NNSL photo

It quiets down when cultural instructor Maryanne Issakiark gives out instructions in Inuktitut on what the next step is in order to progress on their sealskin mittens.

"She's taught us a lot of things," said Annie Kootoo, 11, one of the participants in the visitors centre's sealskin sewing after-school program this winter for children between seven and 11 years old.

"We make the inside, cut the sealskin and then make the outside," said Kootoo.

With the funding coming from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and skins being donated by the Department of Environment, the program took place for one hour every Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. It wrapped up at the end of last month.

Susan Peter, 10, said they have also made mini-amautis and jackets for teddy bears as well as duffel socks.

"These are my first pair of mitts and it's pretty easy," Peter said.

Issakiark, who moved to Iqaluit in 2007, said in every community where she has lived, she has always taught children traditional skills. The first time she taught was in Arviat.

"I feel it's important that I should pass down what was given to me," she said.

And Issakiark said she feels children are keener to start sewing when they are younger.

"It's amazing they could pick it up and do it and they just need assurance."

The turnout for the event has been good and staff at the centre said they feel it is beneficial to have such programs.

"It is important to promote cultural learning and traditional knowledge and it is very good to have something for the children to do after school," said Aaron M. Lloyd, senior information counsellor at the centre.

Issakiark also takes the time to share bits of culture with the children.

"You are not supposed to sew on Sundays and bad weather means someone has cut sealskin with scissors."

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