Nunavut Sivuniksavut The award-winning college program for Inuit Youth Annual Activity Report 2014-2015 Celebrating 30 Years of Inuit Education ! 450 Rideau St. Suite 201, Ottawa, ON K1N 5Z4 Tel: 613-244-4937 Fax: 613-244-0058 [email protected] www.nstraining.ca Registered Charitable # 86880 1630 RT0001 www.nstraining.ca Message from the Chair On behalf of the Board of NS, I'm pleased to share with you the report of the NS program's 30th year. In it, you'll see the amazing array of experiences that NS students go through each year. All of these elements add up to an experience that helps our youth get to know their own history, culture and land claims agreements, and to learn about themselves (as individuals, and as Inuit), and their place in the bigger world. The students' comments at the end of this report will give you a glimpse of how transformative the program has been for them in terms of their pride in their Inuit identity, and their confidence in their ability to reach further goals. Pujjuut Kusugak Chair Two aspects of the past year deserve to be highlighted: the first was the graduation of two students from Nunatsiavut - the first ever! The second, was the NS@30 conference and alumni reunion held at on April 27-29, 2015. This wonderful event was an opportunity to celebrate the program's three decades of innovative programming, to share that experience with educators from Canada and abroad, and a wonderful occasion for alumni to share memories and renew friendships. I hope you'll enjoy reading through this report, and share in our pride at what this year's grads, and the NS program, have accomplished! NS Board of Directors 2014-2015 Jesse Unaapik Mike Christy Sinclair Krista Zawadski Stacey Aglok Maatalii Okalik Vice-Chair Sec.-Tres. MacDonald Quyannamiik, nakurmiik, koana, mat’na, thank you ! The 2014-2015 NS program was made possible by the generous financial support provided by the following organizations : • Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. • Kakivak Association • Kitikmeot Inuit Association • Kivalliq Partners in Development • Aboriginal Affairs and N. Development Canada • Dept. of Education, Gov’t of Nunavut 2 www.nstraining.ca HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR This report highlights some of the activities that made up the NS experience in 2014-2015. For more information on NS, you can go to our web site: www.nstraining.ca and to the NS Facebook page. One of the biggest highlights? Celebrating student accomplishments… Thirty-four proud students at their graduation - their last group photo after a successful year. 1st YEAR GRADUATES Ashley Appaqaq, Sanikiluaq Lynn Mike, Pangnirtung Mandy Tatty, Rankin Inlet Alexie Baillargeon, Iqaluit Rita Mike-Murphy, Pangnirtung Felicia Tugak, Baker Lake Anna Churchill, Clyde River Peter Ottokie, Cape Dorset Cassel Kapolak, Bathurst Inlet Jessica Inookee, Iqaluit Cynthia Pialaq, Hall Beach Keisha Nivingalok, Kugluktuk Ashley Koonoo, Pond Inlet Miranda Qanatsiaq, Hall Beach Keisha Westwood, Kugluktuk Tapisa Koonoo, Pond Inlet Desiree Autut, Rankin Inlet Tamara Takpannie, Ottawa Kristen Kownak, Iqaluit Qilak Kaludjak, Rankin Inlet Silpa Suarak, Nain Darcy Kuppaq, Hall Beach Lewis Sammurtok, Rankin Inlet Eva Obed, Nain 2nd YEAR GRADUATES Jennifer Amagoalik, Iqaluit Jo-Anne Idlout, Iqloolik Mick Appaqaq, Sanikiluaq Erik Ikoe, Baker Lake Kayla Bruce, Rankin Inlet Cecile Lyall, Taloyoak Marley Dunkers, Iqaluit Jutai Jr. Toonoo, Cape Dorset Nicole Hachey, Baker Lake Vanessa Aglukkaq, Gjoa Haven 3 www.nstraining.ca COURSES INUIT STUDIES (1ST Year) The majority of student time in the 1st Year is spent in the classroom from 9 to 4 each day. Course included: • Inuit History I & II • Contemporary Issues I & II • Land Claims I & II • Inuit-Government Relations • Inuktitut I & II • English I & II • Computers • Cultural Studies I & II ADVANCED INUIT STUDIES (2ND Year) The 2nd Years’ schedule is similar to university, with classes at different times during the week, and more time in between for personal work. Courses included: • Inuktitut • Political Science * • NLCA Implementation • Nunavut Public Administration* • Community Development • The Circumpolar World** • Research Methods • Direct Research Project • People & Cultures of the Circumpolar World ** * Carleton University course ** University of the Arctic course 4 www.nstraining.ca SPECIAL GUESTS In addition to their instructors, students learn a great deal from the past and present leaders, experts and other professionals who come through the program each year. Here are some who visited in 2014-15: Nunavut MP, the Hon. Leona Aglukkak spent an afternoon NTI President Cathy Towtongie talked to the students at the school, talking about her career and some of the about Inuit culture and the work NTI is doing. important issues she deals with as a government minister. John Amagoalik, the “father of Nunavut,” Piita Irniq spoke about the Mary Simon spoke about the Arctic gave an inspiring talk to students. Coppermine meeting in 1970 and his Council and also about education own career as a cultural educator. Elder Suzanne Singuuri, spent an afternoon with the Archaeologist Pat Sutherland gave a Aiju Peter talked about Inuit rights students, telling stories and teaching various traditional skills lecture on Arctic pre-contact history seal hunting, and traditional tatoos Officials Students from the from a Korean First Embassy Nations high visited NS school several times this also visited year 5 An historic conference on post-secondary education ... On April 27-29, 2015, NS hosted NS@30, an international conference to “celebrate innovation in Inuit and Indigenous post-secondary education.” Over 300 indigenous and non-indigenous delegates came from across northern and southern Canada, as well as from New Zealand, Alaska and Norway. A multitude of workshops were held that enabled educators to share their experiences and best practices. Special attendees included international representatives from Alaska, New Zealand and Norway. The Premier of Nunavut, Peter Taptuna, the MP from Nunavut, the Honourable Minster Leona Aglukkaq and President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Cathy Towtongie all provided greetings from their respective governments / associations. Association Presidents PJ Akeeagok of Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Stanley Anablak, of Kitikmeot Inuit Association and David Ningeongan of Kivalliq Inuit Association, also were in attendance throughout the conference. NTI President Cathy Towtongie gave welcoming remarks 6 ... and a celebration of three decades of NS! In addition to being an education conference, NS@30 was also a chance to remember and celebrate the thirty-year history of the NS program. Upwards of 75 alumni were in attendance, renewing past friendships, sharing memories, and participating in the many workshops. The final evening included a gala banquet where our funders were honoured, and a variety of performers kept the audience hopping. QIA President PJ Akeeagok (NS 2003) gave the closing address The NS Board cut the cake to mark NS’ 30th anniversary 7 www.nstraining.ca Learning their own culture … Developing their cultural skills is a central part of the NS experience. It begins at Harris Farm, the retreat centre outside of Ottawa, where, with the help of Ernie Kadloo and NS instructor Dan Guay, students get to learn how to drum, and make tools such as ulus, and jewelry. The retreat centre, Harris Farm Ernie Kadloo of Ottawa taught drumming and tool making Kristy Porter showing off the ring she made our of caribou antler Anna Churchill made her first ulu Meanwhile, back at the school, students also had the chance to learn how to make their own parkas, under the guidance of NS instructors Martha Kyak, Becky Mearns, and Melissa Irwin, as well as guest seamstress Debbie Baker. Marlie Dunkers working on her parka Cynthia Pialak making her own parka Tamara Takpannie wearing her own creation 8 www.nstraining.ca --- sharing it with others, As always, learning how to throat sing, drum dance and sing traditional songs is one of the most popular parts of the NS Program. Under the leadership of instructor Becky Mearns as well professional performers and instructors, the group developed a repetoir of songs and dances that they performed at many venues throughout Ottawa. The hours spent learning and sharing their culture is now considered a credit course at Algonquin. At an Inuit Awareness workshop for government employees Throat singing at an elementary school Demonstrating Inuit games At the Wakefield Winter Carnival Celebrating sealskin fashions on Parliament Hill --- and supporting the Inuit community in Ottawa. Under the guidance of Greg Brown of the National Arts Centre and NS instructor Dan Guay, the students learned to play enough instruments to form their own square dance band and to provide the music for dances put on by Tungasuvvingat Inuit for the Ottawa Inuit community. 9 www.nstraining.ca Other learning activities and experiences … Throughout each year, there are many opportunities for the students to participate in a wide variety of additional educational experiences. Here are more examples from 2014;-2015! Living History In February, students had the very rare opportunity to have a private session with the two main negotiators of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, Paul Quassa, and Tom Malloy. It was a chance to hear first-hand what the process was like, what the issues were, and what their personal challenges were during almost ten years of negotiations. Visiting Inuit Organizations Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Pauktuutit. Media Training Public Speaking Joanna Awa from CBC For the second year, students were in Iqaluit came down in able to develop their skills at public November and did speaking, thanks to the volunteers media training with a from Toastmasters, and international group of 1st Year organization that helps people students. overcome their fears of speaking in front of an audience. Inuit Awareness Workshops with Federal Gov’t Employees The 2nd Year students did three day-long presentations to approx. 75 federal government employees from several departments to help them learn about Inuit issues.