Inuit org launches PSA contest for Nunavut’s Grade 9 kids

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is holding a contest this fall among Grade 9 students across Nunavut to produce digital public service announcements aimed at promoting its Dec. 8 vice presidential election.

The contest is part of a new social studies unit that NTI developed with the Government of Nunavut for use in the territory’s Grade 9 social studies classes, starting this fall.

The unit consists of a teacher’s guide that includes material on the history of negotiations on the Nunavut Land Claims agreement, NTI’s structure, election processes in Canada, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, NTI said in a news release.

“Creating new curriculum that explains how we govern ourselves in modern society and helps students understand the history of Nunavut provides an engaging and valuable learning experience,” Nunavut education minister Paul Quassa said in the release.

Each school in Nunavut is eligible to submit one digital public service announcement, or PSA.

The deadline for receipt of submissions is Oct. 31. A panel of NTI employees will judge those entries and by Nov. 3 announce the winners.

The first prize is worth $2,500 to the winning school. The second prize is worth $1,000.

On Dec. 8, NTI will hold an election for one full-time vice president to fill two expiring or vacant part-time vice president positions.

James Eetoolook, whose term is expiring, currently serves as a vice president. NTI’s other vice president, Jack Anawak, resigned his position last fall to run in the 2013 territorial election.

The election nomination period runs between Oct. 27 and Oct. 31. Prior to that period, candidates must have completed a criminal record check.

Eligible candidates and voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 16 years of age by Dec. 8, 2014 and enrolled under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.