Business and social leader honoured
Mary Simon says education key in ensuring Inuit participation in Nunavut prosperity
Walter Strong
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 6, 2014
Nunavut
If Nunavummiut are going to be in a position take advantage of burgeoning industrial and business opportunities in their own backyard, they need an education system that reflects their language and culture, according to Mary Simon, recipient of the 2014 award of excellence in Aboriginal relations from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business,
Dean Johnson, former president of Sodexo Canada, left, Barry Telford, president Sodexo Canada, Mary Simon and JP Gladu, president and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, were in Vancouver Sept. 25, where Simon received the Award of Excellence in Aboriginal Relations at the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business' annual event. - Pablo Su photo |
"The problem is, our kids are not completing high school," Mary Simon told Nunavut News/North.
"Over 50 per cent of the population is under 25, but a lot of our young people are not getting through high school," Simon added.
"That becomes a serious problem in the workforce. I think even mining companies find it difficult to train people who haven't finished high school."
Simon has participated widely in Northern business and social development, and has received the Order of Canada and the National Order of Quebec for her commitment to social causes. Whether as past president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, or Makivik corporation, Simon is described by the Council for Aboriginal Business as someone always advancing the cause of "critical social, economic and human rights issues for Canadian Inuit regionally, nationally and internationally."
She is currently involved as a volunteer with Canadians for a New Partnership - a movement to improve aboriginal relationships with the rest of Canada and foster mutual understanding.
"Canadians for a New Partnership will be launching in full force soon," Simon said.
"It's to build a better Canada where we all have a place on equal footing."
Finding equal footing is critical for the Inuit of Nunavut, Simon said. She sees Nunavumiut, and all Inuit, as at a pivotal place in their history, especially when it comes to industry and business development. But she fears Inuit and small communities may be left behind if critical changes to education are not put in place.
"It all boils down to education," Simon said.
"I think education is one of our biggest social policy challenges in Canada for aboriginal people."
"Kids need to see themselves in the curriculum so they can feel good about going to school, so that they can see that it's important to go to school," Simon explained.
She said improvements have been made since she was a youth to develop a curriculum that reflects the world view and environment of Inuit students, but more work remains. For example, Simon calls for the expansion of Inuktitut language education.
"The courses that are given in Inuktitut only go to Grade 3 and then they are asked to switch to English, or in French (in Nunavik)," Simon said.
"A lot of kids I talk to say they get lost at that time in their education because they are switching to another language."
"We need more Inuktitut teachers and curriculum development. I'm not saying nothing is happening, but we need to accelerate that."
