New CD will help children learn Inuktitut

JACKIE WALLACE

An ambitious recording of songs in English, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun will use the language of music to help teach and preserve spoken languages in schools across the Nunavut this September.

The inspiration for the 25-song CD came out of a Nunavut Teacher Education Program music class taught by Moon Joyce in Pond Inlet in 2001. Joyce started stints teaching adult education, particularly music, around Nunavut in 1997.

“Every time I teach the course I take the students through the process of songwriting,” said Joyce in an interview from her home in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

After writing lyrics and establishing a structure, the class adds music. One of her students suggested that it would be great to record these songs and share them with other teachers.

That is what will happen this fall when the CD is made available to schools across the territory and to the public, thanks to funding provided by the Nunavut Bilingual Education Society.

The songs are aimed at a range of learning levels, including songs written in Joyce’s classes as well as translated or revamped children’s songs, traditional songs, a song from the U.S. civil rights movement, a fiddle song and even a Harry Belafonte number in Inuktitut.

“Using music to teach language is extremely effective,” said Joyce. “The songs go up in grade level and get more complicated.”

The tune of the popular kid’s song “Ring Around a-Rosie” is transformed in Inuktitut into “We Are Hunting Caribou.” The traditional “Ikaaqpugut Akianut” is translated into “We’ve Crossed the Bridge” in English.

The song that Joyce’s class in Pond Inlet wrote in 2001, “Qulliup Qaumaningaqpugut (We Are Like a Qulliq’s Light)” is recorded in Inuktitut and English. The song’s lyrics use the metaphor of the teacher’s desire to keep the light of learning burning, which is the purpose of the CD as well.

The project does not only preserve language, but also tradition and history. One of the songs, “Pihiq Illiayuk Otoayok” is a “pihiq,” or a personal song, in Innuinaqtuun that was offered by Lucy Taipana, the principle of Jimmy Hikok elementary school in Kugluktuk. Taipana had a scratchy old recording that was made on Holman Island in 1962 of her grandmother singing the song.

“I like the tune,” said Taipana. “It’s a traditional drum dancing song. It’s for a crane dance.”

Beyond the tune, Taipana sees an important moral in the song’s story as well. The song is sung in the voice of a young orphan girl named Otoayok who is traveling with families from the land to the coast. She is sleeping on the porches of igloos and crying while she walks. She doesn’t think she is going to make it, but in the end she does.

“Life has many hurdles and troubles but if you keep going you will get through the rough parts,” said Taipana. “Whatever problems come up in life, they are what will make you stronger. It’s really important for our children to hear and learn from.”

As the principle of a school, the value of language in the song is not lost on Taipana. “We are having a hard time keeping our Innuinaqtuun,” she said. “This is a chance for the children to use it and learn it.”

The project was also an opportunity to shine a light on local talent. “It’s done by people in the community and it’s their voices,” said Joyce. “It has a fresh sound.”

The CD was recorded at recording engineer Michael Doyle’s studio in Iqaluit. A few songs were recorded in the fall of 2005, but the main bulk were recorded this past June.

The English songs are sung by Joyce and the Inuktitut songs are sung by Celina Kalluk, Gloria Kowtak and Aaju Peter with back-up assistance by Neevee Hansen and Ooleena Nowyuk. The musical accompaniment was provided by Andrew Molloy and Heather Daley.

While the finishing touches are being put on the production and packaging, the CD will be available just in time for the beginning of the school year. Joyce also plans to create a teachers guide to accompany the CD in the future.