An Inuit doorway to college, in Ottawa

JOHN THOMPSON

The 29 young Inuit beginning classes this week at Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa currently face one of the more difficult challenges of student life: learning how to get out of bed and into class on time.

And when they do sleep in, they’ll pay a small fine out of their own pocket.

“We call it the people’s court,” said Murray Angus, an instructor with the eight-month training program, which was created by the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut in 1985 to prepare young Inuit for the implementation of the Nunavut land claims agreement.

The program teaches Inuit history, the roles of Inuit organizations and governments, current events and how they affect Inuit, as well as a cultural component where students learn ajaaja, throat-singing, and drum-dancing.

For the 22 first-year students, it’s also probably their first experience living in the South – although they won’t be by themselves.

“They never have to be alone, even if they’re down here in the city,” Angus said. “They’re in a group from the moment they step off the plane.”

Students also learn to take responsibility for their actions, and to hold others to account – which brings us back to the people’s court, where latecomers are given a chance to defend themselves, in front of a jury of their peers, once a week.

If found guilty, the defendant pays up, and the money they give goes into a fund for students to attend activities around the city, such as watching movies, going bowling, rock climbing and more.

“I’ve never been to the opera. But they have,” Angus said.

Students are also immersed in the world of politics during the training program, and often make visits to parliament while the aboriginal affairs committee is sitting.

“We take the opportunity to see politics in action,” Angus said.

In fact, Angus said he expects his students to be invited to speak before the committee when it resumes its look at aboriginal education in Canada this fall.

“When people are appearing before the committee, we go, and we fill the room sometimes,” Angus said. “It turns heads.”

Students can also probably count on classroom visits from Nunavut’s member of parliament, Nancy Karetak-Lindell and Senator Charlie Watt, who have both made past appearances.

“We don’t so much invite people,” Angus said. “We take advantage of people who come through town.”

Last year students were visited by Manitok Thompson from the Government of Nunavut’s education department to share their thoughts during her consultations for the Education Act. And they spoke with Thomas Berger, the esteemed judge hired as a conciliator to work out the implementation of the Nunavut land claims agreement.

Berger was so impressed with the students he visited a second time, Angus said. And in Berger’s well-known report, he recommended that NS receive a boost in funding from the federal government.

Students also make themselves known in Ottawa during public performances of drum dancing and throat singing, at locations such as Rideau Hall and Parliament Hill. “They’re going out and telling people who they are,” Angus said.

They’re also fundraising during these demonstrations, for an end-of-year trip which in the past has taken students to South Africa, Alaska, Japan, New Zealand and Greenland.

This year’s destination won’t be decided until the students debate which location is best and take it to a vote, Angus said.

Each year the program receives about three times the number of applicants they can accept, Angus said. He said about 15 other applicants were fit for the program this year, but the program’s already filled to capacity at 22.

Over the years the program has seen its number of instructors grow from two to four, Angus said.

Among their ranks this year is David Serkoak, a respected teacher who was formerly the principal of Joamie School in Iqaluit. “He wants everyone to make drums this year,” Angus said.

Seven more students are enrolled in their second year of study, which is intended to prepare them for further studies at university, and includes courses taken through Carleton University, the University of Ottawa and the University of the Arctic.

“There’s now starting to be a critical mass of Inuit post-secondary students,” Angus said.

Angus said students who graduate from NS leave with newfound independence – and pride in who they are.

“When students go from here, they know they can go anywhere they want in the world for work, or whatever,” Angus said.

Most graduates miss home and return to Nunavut to pick up a job with an Inuit organization or the government, Angus said.

He points to Tommy Akulukjuk as an example, who is currently working for the department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth to develop curriculum for Nunavut’s proposed cultural school.

“In effect, they’re learning what their parents’ generation accomplished,” Angus said. “It’s a source of great pride for them.”