'You should have seen his face'
Elders program at Peter Pitseolak School a hit among students
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Friday, Monday, December 2, 2013
KINNGAIT/CAPE DORSET
In a workshop nestled in the Inuit Art Capital of the world, the next generation of carvers learn to saw, chisel and polish soapstone into a recognizable shape.
Elder Teetee Curley recently spent time with Grade 7 students, including Holly Josephie, at Peter Pitseolak School in Cape Dorset, teaching them about soapstone carving. - photo courtesy of Peter Pitseolak School |
The Grade 7 students at Pitseolak School are allowed to express themselves however they want, but many chose to make an Inukshuk.
First-time carver Ethan Manning couldn't say why the traditional structure inspired him, but said he enjoyed the process.
"He started with a saw and then sanded," said student teacher Jeff Uttak, translating for the shy preteen. "He's doing great. I saw his finished product. It's a good piece. You should have seen his face - he was a little excited about it."
The class is part of the school's elders program, where elders are brought in once a week for 80 minutes to teach Grade 7 and 8 students a traditional activity.
The girls and boys are split into separate groups. So far, the girls have learned about beading and sewing skins, while the boys were taught to make miniature qamutiiks and how to carve.
"Cape Dorset is pretty fortunate to have this elders program. Kids enjoy the program and it's benefiting their future," said Uttak, who has been with the school since the start of the year.
"For example, the boys are doing carving right now and that may benefit their future. I'm pretty sure at least a handful of the group will become carvers. Maybe not full-time, but they'll do carving once in a while to make money or express themselves."
When asked if he would continue carving, Manning nodded his head.
Meanwhile, Grade 7 student Lori-Ann Tarr indicated she would keep practicing the beading and sewing techniques she learned for the first time through the elders program.
The elders who teach at the school are recruited based on life experience and their desire to interact with the students, said principal Michael Soares, adding a background check is required.
Their role in the school is an important one, he said.
"One of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit values talks about giving back, and that's certainly what our elders do," said Soares, adding they are teaching students more than just traditional activities.
"(During beading) the girls were certainly very focused on listening to the elders talk about childbirth in an outpost camp setting. So that kind of history and culture, that's not something that someone who was educated in southern Canada can give.
"A lot of the hidden curriculum in any area of school happens when there are times like that and in an informal setting."
