Inuktitut daycare’s growth spurt makes it ready for bigger space

YWCA Agvik forms partnership with Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik to open up new Indigenous housing

Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik, Iqaluit’s Inuktitut Daycare, is preparing to move into this brand new facility in Apex this winter. (Photo by Daron Letts)

By Daron Letts

Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik daycare is holding a fundraiser with a fresh twist to assist with its operating costs as the non-profit organization prepares to move into a new, larger facility this winter.

Its new building at 3044 Apex — owned by YWCA Agvik — is twice the size of 1033 Iglulik Drive, the house now filled with the city’s only Inuktitut-immersion daycare.

“We have a 10-year [memorandum of understanding] with the daycare to lease the space, which will allow them to move out of the house they currently use and expand to almost double the amount of children,” said Sherri Robertson, executive director of YWCA Agvik, the daycare’s new landlord.

Once settled in, the daycare’s capacity will expand from about 20 space to room for 39 children — including 31 toddlers and eight infants.

YWCA Agvik tapped into funding earmarked for Indigenous housing from National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. and used that money to entice more help from the Department of Education, which contributed to the cost, along with some additional support from the federal government.

The upper floors are apartments and the main level is commercially zoned, which is why YWCA Agvik sought the partnership with Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik.

“One of our board members was a parent at Tumikuluit at the time and was able to share that they needed to move out of their current building,” Robertson said.

“Because of the amount of new daycare spaces being created, the Department of Education with funding from the government of Canada was able to contribute to the purchase of the building, which had been a barrier up to that point.”

The bottom floor of the new building was purpose-built for the daycare, with tiny toilets and other architectural considerations to make the space comfortable for students aged five and under.

Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik’s goal is to preserve Inuktitut by providing culture-based learning and early language development in Inuktitut.

Established 18 years ago, Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik closed temporarily in 2019 when finances tightened around the all-Inuit board.

This summer, the daycare operated with six permanent staff members and 20 children enrolled. The daycare is primarily funded by the Government of Nunavut. Parents pay $10 a day, with the territorial government subsidizing $43 per child.

The daycare’s innovative fall fundraiser, a play on the “Chase the Ace” model, involves draw participants selecting playing cards that feature photos of notable Iqalummiut, such as hunter Jack Allakarialak; Eva Michael, host of CBC Igalaaq; and Sandra Omik, lawyer and legal counsel at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

The elusive, sought-after ace card, which yields the grand prize, is replaced in this game by the face of Iqlauit mayor Solomon Awa. The grand prize for that card has topped $6,000. The draws, currently in week nine, are held at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Funds raised by the Chase the Face game will go towards operational costs associated with the increase in children and larger space.

Tickets are sold at $10 each and are available for purchase from several community members or at at Miqsuqta fabric store.

Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik has not released a move-in date, yet, for the new facility.

“Language holds values and determines how we view the world so we see the importance of children being immersed in their language during these significant developmental years,” Robertson said.

“We look forward to seeing what these children accomplish in the future.” 

 

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