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IQALUIT
Inuit singer Susan Aglukark was hoping Iqaluit would support her idea to start a weekly recreational homework night she believes would bring healing to Northern communities and prevent suicide and substance abuse in the next generation.

Inuit singer and activist Susan Aglukark continues to promote the benefits of Kamajiit, a weekly homework night. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo

Unfortunately, the support for the Kamajiit project in Nunavut's capital, as in other communities, appeared disappointingly low. Parents and teachers - the main constituents of such a project - were not in the majority among the 12 people at the Sept. 27 meeting. Aglukark's team, facility operators, and media took about nine of the seats.

"Even if we had two teachers come out and have an open dialogue," she would have been satisfied, Aglukark said. "I was hoping to get some ideas from teachers about how to get kids involved."

The program is a once-weekly night where parents, teachers and volunteers gather in a home to create a safe environment for children to do homework. Kamajiit, which means "caregivers" in Inuktitut, is the main project of Arctic Children and Youth Foundation, which Aglukark chaired until this month. The program, she said, would create a bond between parents and children that increases the odds parents are there to support their children at times of achievement, in turn fostering self-esteem.

"When a child has a feeling of accomplishment they feel it in their hearts and minds." she said. "We need to be there when they celebrate accomplishment."

This connection, Aglukark said, could help residents "take back control of our communities."

"As leaders, we're often charged with the problems of suicide, alcohol and drugs. The fact is, if parents aren't involved, those problems won't go away."

Aglukark has travelled to Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet and elsewhere in Nunavut promoting Kamajiit, and has been met with similarly low attendance. Representatives of the Iqaluit District Education Authority, invited the day of the event, were unable to attend. However, the authority has offered office space for use by program representatives, according to Aglukark's staff.

"It's very challenging to get a program like this running," Aglukark said. "We were here in February, April and July. There has to be a way."

Andrew Morrison, an Inuksuk High School and Nunavut Arctic College graduate, said he would be interested in volunteering.

"Having people on the ground adding consistency to a program will push the momentum," said Morrison.

He said programs starting but not running consistently make matters worse, because students will assume adults aren't committed to the project.

A high level of teacher turnover in the North is one obstacle, which Aglukark thinks could be resolved by having parents drive the program.

"Learning doesn't end at 3:30," she said. "The most critical part of learning happens at home."

"I like the idea of having parents and children connecting to boost their confidence," said Nunavut Arctic College nursing student Nancy Mike, who attended the meeting. "If it's something fun and you feel good about what you're doing, that's the thing."

Those are encouraging words for Susan Aglukark.

"I choose to believe we'll make this happen for the children," Aglukark said. "We as parents can't keep trying to fix the problem with Band-Aid solutions."

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