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Pride through learning

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, May 11, 2011

ARVIAT - An Arviat group is bringing the history of its community to the nation's capital this week.

NNSL photo/graphic

Curtis Konek and Patrick Pingashat, from left, brave -40 C temperatures to film for the Nanisiniq Arviat History Project. - photo courtesy of April Dutheil

The group of four Inuit youth researchers and an elder are in Ottawa to discover and retell the history of the Eastern Arctic from the Inuit perspective, including the truth of what happened to Inuit when forced from their traditional way of life to modern western styled communities.

The researchers -- Amy Owingayak, Curtis Konek, Jordan Konek and Patrick Pingashat -- are part of the Nanisiniq (journey of discovery) Arviat History Project being co-ordinated by Dr. Frank Tester of the University of British Columbia.

They've spent the past year studying archival documents and interviewing elders about the TB epidemics, relocations, starvations and other socio-historical events affecting Inuit in the 1950s and 1960s, and are working on a documentary to illustrate how Inuit went from living on the land in tents and iglus to working underground in the Rankin Inlet nickel mine in the late 1950s.

The youth are joined in Ottawa by elder Martha Otokala.

The members will spend 10 days in Ottawa examining archival material at Library and Archives Canada, visiting the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Civilization for behind-the-scenes tours.

They will meet with the Inuit Secretariat at Indian and Northern Affairs, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Nunavut Sivuniksavut and Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada to learn more about how history is affecting Inuit today.

The youth will film and blog on their experiences as they explore the archival material and contemporary Inuit social issues, and interview former Nunavut commissioner Peter Irniq and social worker Floyd (Bud) Neville, who worked in Rankin in the 1950s and 1960s.

Owingayak said she didn't learn much about Arviat history while in high school.

She said learning more about Inuit history helps her understand what it means to be Inuk.

"I've learned so much being involved in this project, everything from Inuit history to working with cameras, how to interview elders and blogging about our experiences," said Owingayak.

"There's not much taught about Inuit culture or how our community started in school.

"I knew a bit about my history as an Inuk, but, when I got involved with Nanisiniq, I learned so much more.

"That knowledge has really given me pride about my identity."

Owingayak is also excited about attending the grand opening of the new Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) building while in Ottawa.

She said she's looking forward to beginning her studies in the NS program.

"Attending NS should be an awesome experience because you learn even more about your culture in that program," said Owingayak.

"We need people to understand more about Nunavut and Inuit culture.

"I'm shocked by how many people still ask if we live in iglus.

"We also need more Inuit youth to know their culture and keep it strong, because we won't know who we really are unless we know our ancestors and have pride in how much they went through."

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