Budding leaders to present research findings in Iqaluit

Navarana Beveridge of Iqaluit is one of 12 young Arctic researchers whose work has been funded by the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation through the Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowship Program. They’re presenting the results of their work this week in Iqaluit. (PHOTO BY DAVID MURPHY)

It’s fair to say Navarana Beveridge, 33, holds the North close to her heart.

Originally from Greenland, she’s settled in Iqaluit and set her sights on strengthening the rights of aboriginal people for years — even representing indigenous youth in different countries at a United Nations forum on education and indigenous languages.

She’s kept the theme of education and language close to her, and seeks improvements to Nunavut’s early childhood education.

That’s why she’s a member of the Jane Glassco Arctic Fellowship Program who are showcasing extensive two-year research studies on numerous northern aboriginal issues, culminating in a group session on young and old leaders of the North in Iqaluit June 26 and 27.

One would argue, however, that the 12 fellows — ranging in age from 25 to 35 years — are all future leaders of the North.

Beveridge was selected by the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, which supports the program, because of her prior knowledge as a social policy worker with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and education and language policy analyst with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

Her work has led her to make “formal submissions before the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on the Inuit Language Protection Act, the Official Languages Act and the Nunavut Education Act,” says the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation website.

“I think that’s why I was chosen for the Jane Glassco program, but leaders can be defined in such different ways,” Beveridge said.

“I’m not so interested in elected leadership position, I’m more interested in an individual at a community level — how can I contribute positively? How can I make change for the better?” she said.

Through the program, Beveridge has been answering her own questions.

Her individual research project is about preschools and early childhood education. She was one of the founding members of the first Inuktitut daycare in Iqaluit created in 2007, Tasiuqtigiit, and she studied how daycares are invaluable to the development of children.

Beveridge found that students who came from the Inuktitut daycare centre were well versed in the language and other dialects of Inuktitut, and while in Kindergarten, were even helping other students catch up to them.

She has two propositions to table in the Legislative Assembly, and she’s already established an implementation plan if or when her recommended legislation is passed.

“I’m calling for two things: Inuit parents to insist on early childhood education that is based on Inuit values, and for the government of Nunavut to have more standards and be more strategic in early childhood education,” said Beveridge.

“This [research study] is a tool for policy makers to learn about some of the barriers that exist for some of the First Nations, Inuit, and northerners in general,” Beveridge said.

Changes have already been seen in other jurisdictions within the short two-year study period, according to the vice-president of programs and operations for the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation and co-designer of the Jane Glassco program, James Stauch.

“Like Kyla Kakfwi Scott’s research in NWT, her premise was that an [educational] program wasn’t taken as seriously as it could, and should be. It was marginalized as a light, optional course by teachers and the system. Her research made the government implement new standards and training.”

He also mentioned how recent law-school graduate Joseph Flowers made the Nunavik School Board “stand up and take notice” of his research surrounding post-secondary sponsorship and support policies for Nunavimmiut.

Others will have to wait their turn to make an impact on their northern communities, but he is confident that “you will be hearing a lot about these people in the future. They are our future premiers and MPs.”

All individual research projects will be presented June 26 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Unikkaarvik Regional Visitors Centre in Iqaluit.

A project that all 12 have been working on will be presented June 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Frobisher Inn, which Iqaluit mayor Madeleine Redfern and Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak are expected to attend. The event, described as a “public dialogue session,” is open to the public.

This group project is about leadership in the North, where all members identified current and potential leaders that are building a stronger North among local communities.