KANGIQLNIQ/RANKIN INLET
An impressive fashion show was held in Rankin Inlet during Pakallak Tyme celebrations to highlight the efforts of 14 participants in the second Miqqut Program to be held in the community earlier this month.

Nate and Amber Kowmuk hit the runway smartly attired in a sealskin vest, pants and pink parka made by Harriet Kowmuk during the Miqqut Program fashion show held in Rankin Inlet as part of Pakallak Tyme celebrations earlier this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The Nunavut Literacy (Ilitaqsiniq) Council program, which combines sewing with embedded literacy and essential skills, ran from January until May 20 and was chiefly funded by the Kivalliq Mine Training Society.

Priority for the program was given to the spouses of Agnico Eagle Mines employees who deal with the fly-in and fly-out nature of their spouse's job.

Other sponsors for the program included Economic Development and Transportation through the arts and crafts development fund, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Kivalliq Inuit Association

In-kind donations, materials and supplies were received from the Red Top, Kativik Ltd., Kissarvik Co-op, Ivalu Ltd., Simon Alaittuq School and Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre.

Literacy program co-ordinator Adriana Kusugak said the participants left the program with a whole kit of transferable skills they can easily use in other areas of their lives.

She said it's important to note the literacy and essential skills portion of the program, in addition to the sewing, because they can be used in any area of their lives.

"The students really got into it, and there's no end to the level of creativity when it comes to seamstresses in the Kivalliq and Nunavut as a whole," said Kusugak.

"Having a group of women working together like this keeps pushing the boundaries of what they can do upwards.

"It's very co-operative, not a competitive environment, and they feed off each other in the program.

"They become so engaged in the program, they take the skills they're learning to new levels all the time."

Kusugak said the first Miqqut Program to be held in a Kivalliq community outside of Rankin will take place this coming fall.

She said program participants bring a varied set of sewing skills with them.

"Those with good sewing skills at the beginning of the program learn and develop just as much as anyone else because of the expertise of the elder instructors always challenges them to do better.

"There's room for everyone to grow and improve, and that's the point of the program, to challenge yourself.

"Someone starting out may begin with a simpler project, while those with more sewing experience might take on more challenging projects from the beginning.

"We hope to invite participants from across Nunavut to an embedded literacy workshop in Rankin this coming fall to get an idea of what embedding literacy is all about and then create their own projects and programs in their own community."