Elders in schools not the same as community counsellors

First of all, I want to thank Nunatsiaq News for putting the spotlight on one of the most important aspects of Nunavut’s new Education Act in the March 17 article “Tapardjuk: Nunavut schools will hire elders.”

Engaging elders in the education system and incorporating them into our schools is a tremendous step in incorporating Inuit culture, values and language into our students’ everyday learning.

However, I wish to clarify a point from this article, and indeed from the committee appearance itself. There may have been a slight interpretation error during my recent appearance before the committee of the whole last month.

I was speaking in Inuktitut about elders in our school, as well as the new school community counselor positions.

To make clear, I did not say that the elders hired in our schools would be the school community counselors.

I said there would be elders, as well as school community counselors; and that the two will have very different roles in our schools.

Elders will teach students about Inuit tradition, language, cultural skills and our great history. They will also serve as mentors, helping to guide students through their strong link to the past and incorporating this knowledge into the present and future.

Our school community counselors will serve as the link between schools and the community, to help create the best possible relationship between the two.

These are exciting times for education in Nunavut. I am so glad to see an on-going discussion and encourage you all to contact the Department of Education on the regulation development of the Education Act.

Louis Tapardjuk
Minister of Education
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