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NUNAVUT
The impacts residential schools had on Inuit and the challenges survivors face are covered in the newly-introduced residential school course available to Nunavut high school students.

Taught in Grade 10 as part of the social studies course, the newly-added content includes the positive and negative impacts residential schools had on students. It is mandatory for students to take.

The course topics include how education was delivered before residential school;, colonialism, including the legislation allowing for residential schools; techniques used to assimilate students to European culture while disassociating them from their own; the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, and the federal apology and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The course also includes stories of survivors, initiatives which help people deal with the legacy of residential schools, how people are addressing their experience and the inter-generational effects of the residential school system.

Premier and Education Minister Eva Aariak was present in Yellowknife on Oct. 2 when TRC commissioner Marie Wilson received the first copy of the teacher's guide.

"By enabling a deeper understanding of our history, our students will learn the impact of education on future generations," stated Aariak.

About 70 teachers from the NWT and Nunavut were in Yellowknife last week for professional development about the new curriculum.

The curriculum was piloted in Taloyoak, Pond Inlet and Arviat this past March.

Netsilik School principal Gina Pizzo said students seemed interested by the course material, which she described as really good.

"Personally, I just scanned over some of the materials and they looked quite extensive and quite interesting as well," she said. "I think the students are certainly responding to it because it's so new. They've never had that sort of background on the residential schools, other than what parents or grandparents have mentioned to them over the years."

Netsilik School teacher George Hill said the students responded well to the course.

"There were some tender moments at times, depending on the material. The audio and video clips struck the kids pretty hard but, generally speaking, they got a lot out of it," said Hill. "To discuss that topic needs to be done and I think the way it's been written, it's an excellent unit. I think the kids will get a lot out of it."

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