Young historians share their heritage in Ottawa
Pond Inlet girls present Inuit clothing at national heritage fair
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Monday, October 24, 2016
MITTIMATALIK/POND INLET
Natasha Kiyoapik knows a lot about the amauti, and now the Nasivvik High School student will get to share her knowledge at the national level.
Grade 8 student Natasha Kiyoapik of Pond Inlet will represent Nunavut at a youth heritage fair in Ottawa starting Nov. 26 with her project showing the history of the amauti.
Grade 10 student Alailah Tagat of Nasivvik High School in Pond Inlet will present her project on Inuit clothing. - photo courtesy of Claude Pike |
The Grade 8 student from Pond Inlet was chosen along with her Grade 10 schoolmate Alailah Tagat to represent Nunavut at Canada's History's Youth Forum in Ottawa starting Nov. 26. Chosen from among the projects at the hamlet's annual heritage fair, Kiyoapik's and Tagat's videos of their projects were chosen by judges and an online poll to be included among 200 Young Citizens student projects from across Canada.
Kiyoapik's project poster-board features pictures of the amauti for different seasons past and present. She said she chose to do her project on the piece of traditional clothing for Inuit women because she likes wearing them, having used one to carry her young cousin around.
"It feels so heavy (when there is a baby in the hood), but you can get used to it," she said.
Tagat's project, which she has been building on since Grade 7, covers all types of Inuit clothing. Much of her research came through talking to elders in the community, including her grandparents.
"I love Inuit clothing," Tagat said. "They are beautiful and warm to wear when you are out hunting."
She has learned to sew parkas, caribou skin ski pants, polar bear fur mitts and kamiks, and plans to take some pieces along with her to display in Ottawa.
Eight Nunavut students - all from Pond Inlet - participated in the Young Citizens program this year.
"We actively seek opportunities for our students to broaden their horizons beyond their community," said Nasivvik High School vice-principal Claude Pike.
"Anything like this that allows them to showcase their knowledge is always something we welcome."
He said while many schools focus on sports trips, there are lots of travel opportunities for students that highlight academic achievement and strengthen cultural interests.
Other projects from Nasivvik High School included presentations on seal hunting, sealskin sewing, the inukshuk, a chronicle of Nunavut as it became a territory, changes to Inuit culture after first contact with European settlers and the structure of the Nunavut government.
The Young Citizens heritage presentations make up the youth portion of a national history forum which is running in conjunction with the Governor-General's History Awards. The theme this year focuses on indigenous histories.
"That ties in really well with the students coming from Pond Inlet, to bring that perspective not just for the other students but for the awards as a whole," said Joel Ralph, director of programs for Canada's History Society.
He said having students from the hamlet brings added cultural diversity to the Ottawa fair.
"These girls had done some really fantastic research and a great job at explaining their projects, and where they are coming from," Ralph said. "We are excited to have them bring that to the fair in Ottawa to participate with other students from across Canada."
The girl's videos can be seen on the Canada's History Society website.
