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ARVIAT - A recent exchange trip between Kivalliq and southern students has led to the birth of a unique project.

Sonia Osbourne and Alvin Illungiayok, back, of Arviat enjoy horseback riding during the first stage of their exchange trip to the south this past May. - photo courtesy of Cody Prusky

Students from John Arnalukjuak High School (JAHS) in Arviat travelled to Lloydminster, Alta./Sask., in mid-May before their counterparts from Avery School came to Arviat later that same month.

The program was sponsored by the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada (SEVEC).

The exchange between the two schools has spawned a children's book featuring illustrations by artist Graham Flatt.

The story focuses on a somewhat magical trail which brings the two groups of students together.

A lone youth in Lloydminster finds a piece of string and starts to follow it.

The student finds others along the way and they follow the string to the middle of the book, where they meet Arviat youths who were travelling in the opposite direction.

JAHS vice-principal Cody Prusky said each student from Arviat and Avery School who took part in the exchange program has a page in the book dedicated to them.

He said the book is unique and, to the best of his knowledge, has never been done before in this manner.

"The book is called The String and the Ivalu (caribou sinew)," said Prusky.

"Our side of the story starts with Joelen Manik building an iglu, as she was taught by her elders, when suddenly her pana breaks.

"She looks around for something to fix it and notices some ivalu, which she soon realizes trails off into the distance.

"She follows it and one becomes two and then three, and our group of kids follow the ivalu all the way to Churchill, Man., where they meet the group from the south who had followed a piece of string to the same place."

Prusky said SEVEC is interested in talking to the exchange organizers about the book, as is Nunavut's Department of Education.

He said as it looks right now, the Department of Education may foot the bill to have the book translated into Inuktitut and put in every Nunavut school.

"This is something completely different that's never happened before.

"As you can imagine, we're all pretty proud and excited about it and looking forward to taking the next step.

"It's not every day you get the chance to be part of such a unique project."

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