Iqaluit students hope hunger strike can change lives

Margo Crawford, Eelai Uniuqsaraq and Kira Bychok are eating reduced versions of their normal lunches as part of a four-day hunger awareness project for their social studies class. From Jan.10 to Jan. 14, participants will cut back on what they normally eat by one-third. (PHOTO BY DEAN MORRISON)

Iqaluit high school students and teachers are engaging in a “hunger strike” this week to draw attention to hunger in Nunavut

From Jan.10 to 14, more than 30 students and teachers at Inuksuk High School will reduce their daily caloric intake to the same level as the average Nunavummiut.

It’s all part of a new Grade 12 social studies course which wants to encourage students to study the society around them, get directly involved and even try to change it.

Margo Crawford, an Inuksuk High School student, chose her project to raise awareness about the “disturbing” amount of hunger affecting Nunavut.

“The information about the issue is out there,” Crawford said. “We know that people in our communities are suffering.”

A July 2009 study conducted by researchers for the Qanuippitali health survey found that the percentage of Nunavummiut who experience shortages of food during the year sits at a rate that is seven times higher than the national average.

Other than having a completion date, the student social studies projects are self-directed.

The projects may include interviews with experts in the areas the students are studying, the writing of a 3,000-word research essay, and preparation of class presentations.

During the presentations, social studies teacher Todd Jane will arrange panels of experts to judge the students.

For Crawford’s panel, this may include representatives from the food bank or community health nurses.

While researching her project, Crawford found some agencies she contacted were reluctant to share information, for fear of being quoted in the media.

This only made her more determined to see this project through and open up the conversation about food insecurity in Nunavut, she said.

“When I went to the Department of Health the first thing the woman asked me was if I was with the media, and even when I told her I was doing a school project, she wasn’t very helpful,” Crawford said.

She then approached the Iqaluit District Education Authority and asked them for help in organizing a survey about hunger in local schools.

But the DEA never got back to her about the survey.

“They wanted information about who would see the survey,” Crawford said. “I guess they didn’t want the information coming to light.”

But talking about and taking action on this issue is the only way that Crawford said she sees real change ever taking hold.

“We know that people in our communities are going hungry – but nobody will talk about it,” she said. “Nothing can be done if the public and the government constantly ignore the issue.”

Classmate Eelai Uniuqsaraq, who is doing a project on devolution, was happy to take part in Crawford’s hunger strike project.

“More people need to realize that the person sitting next to you may not be getting enough food to meet basic requirements,” Uniuqsaraq said. “The hunger strike really brings the perspective of those who cannot eat a proper meal.”

The students realize that not eating enough will be difficult, but also realize that this is how far too many people live their lives every day.