 |
|
|
|
|
  
|
Traditional Inuit education on the land School staff and teachers share outdoor adventureJeanne Gagnon Northern News Services Published Monday, Sept 17, 2012
Staff and teachers from both Sam Pudlat and Peter Pitseolak schools in Cape Dorset spent Sept. 7 learning about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) principles and natural science. The teachers from both schools spent the morning brainstorming how each IQ principle applies to classroom instruction and daily school life, explained Mike Soares, principal at Peter Pitseolak School. He added they had lunch at the park and spent the afternoon learning about the surrounding vegetation as well as conversing with two district education authority members. Soares said this was the first time in years both schools had orientation together and it went quite well. "It was kind of nice, getting traditional Inuit perspective as well as the scientific perspective on the area we live. So that was very good," he said, adding IQ principles are a tokenism in certain schools. "What we have been trying to do is embrace IQ principles even more and to give people more focus on those. That was part of the whole purpose to that exercise." He added the event was successful enough they plan to repeat it next year. John Wilson, the principal at Sam Pudlat School, was one of the close to 50 people who participated in the orientation. Being new to the community, he said he found the story of a sinking vessel as recounted by one of the DEA members who witnessed it as a child particularly interesting. "I enjoyed hearing how as children, they thought the cargo that washed up on shore was exciting for them - being able to go into the surf and pull out clothes and jeans because they needed them," said Wilson. Wilson also ate some of the local plants. He said the day was lots of fun. "I enjoyed it very much. We all did. I had several teachers comment, 'It's the best one they've attended,'" he said. "For me and everybody else, I think, really interesting."
|
