An Inuuqatigiit school through Inuit language, culture, and identity-centred bilingual school program

Cathy  Lee; Education in the North

doi:10.26203/fz34-5b86

An Inuuqatigiit school through Inuit language, culture, and identity-centred bilingual school program

Cathy Lee^* (Corresponding Author), Education in the North

^*Corresponding author for this work

Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

University of Toronto

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Nunavummiut have long been clear; they want to see continued improvements in Nunavut education. It is essential to continue to develop and improve Nunavut education by learning from the past in examining what school programs can look like and how Inuit language, culture, and identity-centred bilingual school program can be developed and implemented in the creation of an Inuuqatigiit school. This unikkaaqatiginniq case study shares and documents community narratives on how Inuksuit School of Qikiqtarjuaq, NU, became an Inuuqatigiit school (1992 to 1999) and what the program looked like and how the Inuit language, culture, and identity-centred bilingual school program that was grounded in Inuit worldview and focused on the whole person, was developed and implemented. Key findings indicate the importance of community/Inuit control of community/Inuit education; Inuit worldview and identity-centred bilingual program focus; Inuuqatigiit School environment; majority Inuit staff/Elders and continual staff development; and parent, community, and Community Education Council direction of and engagement in education in supporting student success, whole-person development, and bilingualism.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	77-106
Number of pages	30
Journal	Education in the North
Volume	32
Issue number	1
Early online date	14 Mar 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.26203/fz34-5b86
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

The sharing of the Qikiqtarjuaq narratives was possible because of the richness of the narratives, the full participation, guidance, and invaluable work of all knowledge holders. We want to recognize and appreciate all knowledge holders and especially several late knowledge holders, Elder advisors, mentors, who contributed to the community consultation, the dissertation study or both. I am grateful to the late Nadia Kooneeliusie, the late Levi Nutaralak, late Jukeepa Audlakiak, and the late Ragelee Angnakok of Qikiqtarjuaq. Forever remembered with deep gratitude and appreciation.

Keywords

Inuit education
Nunavut education
Indigenous education
education change
community-based participatory research

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Cite this

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title = "An Inuuqatigiit school through Inuit language, culture, and identity-centred bilingual school program",

abstract = "Nunavummiut have long been clear; they want to see continued improvements in Nunavut education. It is essential to continue to develop and improve Nunavut education by learning from the past in examining what school programs can look like and how Inuit language, culture, and identity-centred bilingual school program can be developed and implemented in the creation of an Inuuqatigiit school. This unikkaaqatiginniq case study shares and documents community narratives on how Inuksuit School of Qikiqtarjuaq, NU, became an Inuuqatigiit school (1992 to 1999) and what the program looked like and how the Inuit language, culture, and identity-centred bilingual school program that was grounded in Inuit worldview and focused on the whole person, was developed and implemented. Key findings indicate the importance of community/Inuit control of community/Inuit education; Inuit worldview and identity-centred bilingual program focus; Inuuqatigiit School environment; majority Inuit staff/Elders and continual staff development; and parent, community, and Community Education Council direction of and engagement in education in supporting student success, whole-person development, and bilingualism.",

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An Inuuqatigiit school through Inuit language, culture, and identity-centred bilingual school program

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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