Staking the Claim: Dreams, Democracy and Canadian Inuit
Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS), with its partner Entheos Films, is developing a scaleable education unit focused on teaching secondary school students in Nunavut and Canada about the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA).
The unit will include a teacher's guide and a variety of learning resource materials, including a three-part DVD documentary series recounting the pivotal events, negotiations and associated struggles leading up to the NCLA. Inuit students will interview key public and Aboriginal figures who were involved in the agreement.
Despite the NLCA being the heart of Nunavut public policy, it is currently not covered in the high school curriculum (which is still largely based on the Alberta curriculum). Most young Canadians outside Nunavut have no opportunity to learn about the NLCA, despite its significance in Canadian history, politics and identity.
The Government of Nunavut Department of Education is committed to using the curriculum, and have provided in-kind and financial resources to the project.
Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) is “silattuqsarvik”(a place to acquire wisdom). It is a unique eight-month college program based in Ottawa that offers Inuit youth from Nunavut with cultural and academic learning experiences that will help them contribute to the building of Nunavut.
NS helps students prepare for educational, training, and career opportunities that emerge from the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) and the new Government of Nunavut. Students in the NS program learn about Inuit history, organizations, land claims and other issues relevant to their future careers. NS is also a support system for students adapting to independent urban living.
NS is virtually the only opportunity for young Nunavummiut (residents of Nunavut) to learn about the NLCA, the negotiations leading up to it, and its various achievements and challenges.
The idea for this education project came from Madeline Redfern, a student of the Akitsiraq Law Program who is now clerking with the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Department of Canadian Heritage's Canadian Studies Program, Canadian North airlines, First Air, Nunasi Corporation, Kitikmeot Economic Development Commission and Qikiqtani Inuit Association have also joined with the Gordon Foundation in funding this exciting project.
The Gordon Foundation is also supporting some of NS’ other policy and public administration-related educational programming.
For more information, visit Staking the Claim.