Inuit youth should learn their proud history

I would like to take this opportunity to point out the contributions of hardships, loss of culture, and loss of identity among the Eastern Central Inuit of Canada. I have done some research on Inuit history and their first contacts with outsiders in the Arctic and the ongoing relations with the the “outsiders” of Nunavut.

I believe deeply that the Inuit of Canada are slowly but surely being transformed into “Westerners,” with great consequences.

The eastern and central Inuit have a proud and rich history of survival in our harsh and unforgiving environment by adapting to these conditions and understanding and studying their surroundings.

Recordings of such a society were written by a handful of explorers, whalers, missionaries, adventurers, RCMP members, and Inuit interpreters through oral traditions and written sources. People like Franz Boas, Knud Rasmussen, Martin Frobisher, Capt. George Comer, Capt. Spicer of Massachusetts, and others have contributed important information about the once bold and proud people of the eastern and central Arctic.

We once, between the 1200’s to the end of the Second World War, were very independent of outside influence before we became a territory of Canada Inuit who lost their right to trade their resources with the European and American explorers and whalers, and other outsiders. The Keewatin people have been known to control their own resources and economic activities since the 1650s. This was stopped during the Second World War, and the Keewatin became part of Canada.

This, in turn, made us Inuit study the English language and their culture which is of course very important. What the problem was and still is in the North will remain with us until we change the educational system up north.

We have been forced to settle into settlements and were forced to stay in residential schools to learn the “outsiders way of life” (too bad they didn’t have the modern technology and today’s information on history).

Therefore, we have forgotten our bold, proud traditional methods and values. The proud history of Inuit such as Qitlaqjuaq, Tulemaq, Ava, Nivissanaaq, Angutimarrik, John Bull, Harry (George Comers’ whaling boss), should be taught in history classes in the North so that the young people can understand our history, which is based on strong, bold, proud independent people of the past, so we can once again regain our culture and once again be a bold and proud independent people of the Arctic.

I assume this westernization of Inuit has great consequences for us because the system does not include our proud history!

We need to once again learn about our history to lead us into the future, which is uncertain for many young people. I believe this is causing a high rate of suicide in the North because of a loss of culture.

We need to do something fast and make wise decisions as our ancestors did for the betterment of society. I hope this can reach leaders in Nunavut who should consider putting the rich and proud history of the eastern and central Inuit of Canada into the text books of all schools in Nunavut, if not the whole world.

René Tautu
Chesterfield Inlet