NTEP News

Nunavut Teacher Education Program

2010-2011NTEP News

Cover: NTEP students from Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Iqaluit at-tend spring courses at the University of Regina, Faculty of Education (See page 13)

NunavutArctic College

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Acting Director’s Message

Department of Education, U of R Faculty, NTA, Nunavut Arctic College, and NTEP. The ques-tion is do we want/need Grades 7-9 program-ming or Grades 7-12 programming at NTEP and, if so, how are we going to plan for it?

We will be starting a Foundation Year in Cam-bridge Bay and Hall Beach. Community Pro-grams are on-going in Pond Inlet, Qikiqtar-juaq, Pangnirtung, and Cape Dorset in the Baffin Region; Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake in Kivalliq and Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk and Gjoa Haven in the Kitikmeot.

I have planned to meet with Dr. Angelina Weenie, Department Head, Professional Pro-grams at the First Nations University to talk to her about refining our Inuktitut courses in

The Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP) has documented discussion regard-ing its philosophy, purpose and principles: “A series of meetings took place to clarify and articulate the philosophy, purposes and principles that guide the program, students, graduates, NTEP instructors and the princi-pal. Nunavut Arctic College representatives have spent time discussing questions that search for the meaning of teacher education in Nunavut. In considering NTEP’s history and looking forward to the future for teacher education in Nunavut, individuals have asked the following questions and many more:

• What kind of teachers do we need for Nunavut?

• How can teacher education develop, fos-ter and encourage the attitudes, skills and knowledge identified as important for the future?

• What are the roles of partners in teacher education?

• How can partners work together effec-tively to build and achieve a common purpose?

• How can teacher education balance Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, and traditional learning with approaches common in the south?”

I have experienced the growth of NTEP along these lines in the short time I’ve been Acting Director of Education Programs.

There are currently discussions regarding the Middle School Programming with the

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line with the First Nations University which has an affiliation with U of R. We would like to have NTEP Inuktitut courses accredited at the U of R and not only at the Nunavut Arctic College.

I have had nothing but support from my col-leagues especially from the two Community Coordinators, Louise Flaherty and Jim Legge and also Linda Pemik, Director of Academic Affairs and Dan Vandermeulen, President of Nunavut Arctic College. I wish the next Director the best of luck and I, for one, will give him/her the support that is very much needed in a collegial setting such as NTEP. I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday and that you have returned in the fall refreshed, rejuvenated , and ready to tackle the next academic year.

Submitted by Monica IttusardjuatActing Director, NTEP

Instructor of Inuktitut/Culture courses

Table of ContentsActing Director’s Message 2

NTEP Locations, Students, and Instructors 2010-2011 Map

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Greetings from NTEP Community Learning Centres

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New Director of EducationPrograms

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Professional Development Symposium

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Nunavut Teacher Education Students Take a Class at the U of R

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Social Network and Online Technologies Assist NTEP in the Delivery of a Specialized Course

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Nunavut Teacher Education Program Instructors to Premiere Animated Film in Toronto

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Photo by Julie MachnaikFebruary Sunset, Iqaluit

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Cambridge BayMargaret Bentham (Yr. 3)Amaiya Emingak (Foundation)

Northwest Territories

SaskatchewanManitoba

Rankin InletMike Pickles (Yr. 3)

Baker Lake Eva Noah (Yr. 1)

Gjoa Haven

Gjoa Haven Kim Rowley(Foundation)

KugluktukAli Syed (Yr. 1)

Baker Lake

Rankin Inlet

Kugluktuk

Cambridge Bay

NTEP Locations, Students, and Instructors for 2010 - 2011 Map

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Quebec

Baffin Island

Hudson Bay

Iqaluit Monica Ittusardjuat, Acting DirectorLeigh ClarkKaviq KaluraqAndrea BurryDel FraserOoraima Holland (Yr. 1-4)

Pond Inlet Ainsley Hunt (Yr. 1)

Qikiqtarjuaq Tara Muise (Yr. 1)

Rankin InletMike Pickles (Yr. 3)

Gjoa Haven Kim Rowley(Foundation)

Cape Dorset Eileen James Je (Yr. 1)

Pangnirtung Amy McCall (Yr. 1)

Qikiqtarjuaq

Pangnirtung

Pond Inlet

Cape Dorset

Iqaluit

Rankin Inlet

Nunavut

NTEP Locations, Students, and Instructors for 2010 - 2011 Map

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Greetings from NTEP Community Learning Centres

Instructor: Amy McCall (Yr. 1)

The Nunavut Teacher Education Program is in its first year in Pang, and the students are very excited to be involved. There are 10 students in total, one man and nine women. Tim, Alice, Sheepa K., Sheepa N., Maggie, Jeanie, Lynn, Mary, Rita and Kelly are all originally from Pang, and are happy to take the program in their hometown. They have enjoyed the variety of courses Year 1 has had to offer, and look forward to the challenges of year two, along with their teacher, Amy. If you are interested in learning more about Pangnirtung, or seeing pictures of the breath-

taking scenery, visit the hamlet’s website at: http://www.pangnirtung.ca/home

Greetings from beautiful Pangnirtung

Greetings from Bakers LakeInstructor: Eva Noah (Yr. 1)

The Baker Lake NTEP class has been running since the fall of 2009. There are eight stu-dents. The students are used to inviting el-ders to their classroom. Thanks goes to

Tammy Mansbridge, who started them off in Foundation Year. The students have had el-ders as resource people during their courses in Educational Media Studies, Inuktitut 100, and they had six to seven elders for Educa-tion Cultural Studies 100. The latest were two elders for Inuit Studies on the topic of “other beings.” This was very interesting for the students and the instructor, Eva Noah.

This group of students is enjoys having pot-luck dinners at the end of the school year, at the beginning of the school year, and espe-cially for Christmas. They are learning right now about classroom routines because they are in the school for 4 days. They are already in their fourth last course for Year 1; they are a hard working group.

Year 1: Leah Aittauq, Hector Duval, Marvin Mannik, Maggie Qaqi-mat, Joanne Quinangnaq, Sandy Tagoona, Jeannie Tapatai (Missing Mary Phillips)

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Instructor: Ainsley Hunt (Yr. 1)

This is Eleanore Arreak. I am currently in my first year of NTEP in Pond Inlet. I am very thankful that I can take NTEP here in my home community because I have more sup-port from my friends and family. My favourite memory since we started Year 1 is performing Inuit traditional drumming, ajaajaa songs, and throat singing to the community. After school I have many interests. I am a hair-dresser, fur designer, and an instructor for Inuit traditional drumming, ajaajaa singing, and throat singing for Grades 5 and 6. I also like to go camping.

I am Peepa Ootoova from Pond Inlet, Nuna-vut. I am taking NTEP in my home commu-nity. I am happy that it is being offered here because I find it important to attend school near my home. The reason why I am becom-

Greetings from QikiqtarjuakInstructor: Tara Muise, Mike Pickles (Yr. 1)

As part of the KHS 139 course in Qikiqtarjuak, the community nurse was invited into our class to talk about FAS, diabetes, and making healthy decisions. In order to bring home the importance of what we were learning, the students and I (Mike Pickles) had our own sugar levels tested. We also incorpo-rated short, daily walks to promote health awareness and participation.

Photo: Bottom left is Eena Qappik and Lisa Kooneeliusie. Top left is Tina Alookie and Instructor Mike Pickles. (Absent: Lisarala Kooneeliusie.)

ing a teacher is so that there could be more Inuit teachers. This is important so that there will not be a language barrier between the teachers and students. I am enjoying my first year of NTEP so far. The most memorable ex-perience I have had during my Year 1 is when we made our brass headband, called a qau-ruti. I felt like a women since our ancestors wore them in the past for specific reasons. I would like to encourage other people who are interested in teaching to join NTEP so that they can explore their teaching abilities.

My name is Natasha Mablick. I am a first year NTEP student in my beautiful home-town of Pond Inlet. We have a small class but my classmates are way more than just my classmates, they have become my NTEP family. This little NTEP family of mine keeps me going. Since beginning my studies I have had many eye opening experiences. Being

Greetings from students at Pond Inlet

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Greetings from Cape Dorset Instructor: Eileen James Je (Yr. 1)

Students enrolled in Nunavut Teacher Edu-cation Program in Cape Dorset are excited about their learning experience this aca-demic year. Twelve students are enrolled in the program and their commitment and dedication to their studies is evident. Having experienced many challenging moments in the community, all 12 have joined voices and heads to remain focused and to reach their academic goals this year.

Interviews with elders in their Indigenous Studies class has further introduced them to their rich heritage, as well as reinforced their confidence and self pride. Students are plan-ning an Appreciation Day for the elders in Cape Dorset who have added much to their studies and their life as students on a journey to becoming teachers and future leaders of Nunavut.

The students in the program are: Saimai-yu Akesuk, Silaqqi Alariaq, Rebecca Hutchings, Mary Laisa, Alashus Padlug, Silaqqi Petaulassie, Saizula Putuguq, Caro-line Qiatsuk, Mary Taukie, Ningiukuluk Teevee, Sileema Tunnillie, and Jefferson

Uttak.

able to study in my home town really makes me feel like I am a role model and someone who is looked up to. I want the young people to know that nothing is impossible once you put your mind to it. I am a university student in my small community of 1500 people. I can now stand tall and proudly say that university is not impossible, even in a small community like Pond Inlet.

Taking the NTEP course in my home com-munity is important for me because leaving home it too hard for some of us, and it is easier to be with friends and relatives who support and encourage you to finish your education. When you move to a different community, it is difficult to concentrate on how to be around new people and the new community. It is good to take the course in my community because whenever you get discouraged, you have your family and friends to support you.

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Greetings from Iqaluit

ESCI 302 Land Trip in IqaluitInstructor: Kaviq Kaluraq (Yr. 1)

The Environmental Education students went on a land trip for the day on April 19. It was a beautiful sunny day. The class travelled for about an hour up Sylvia Grinnell River. Stu-dents had a chance to try to chisel through fishing holes that had frozen over; two of them got through. They fished with no luck and started building an Iglu.

Two students, determined to get a fish-ing hole, used a chisel and a mallet to try get through; because it is not traditionally done that way, it made it more interesting. Students had a chance to take pictures for one of their assignments. One of the two exchange students Siv Holm accompanied us, along with our guides Alex Flaherty and Jason Carpenter.

Elizabeth Ryan and Ruth Gustaw

Ruth Gustaw and Jennifer Ipirq

Siv Carita Holm

Siv Carita Holm, Brenda Qiyuk, Jason Carpenter, and Elizabeth Ryan

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Greetings from Iqaluit

Iqaluit EPE 215 ClassInstructor: Andrea Canady (Yr. 3)

The students in EPE 215 had an oppor-tunity to prepare a full day of activities for the students at Nakasuk School. The students organized Inuit game stations with posters.

The activities for the day were:

Sittuqtaq – Russian kick dancePiliutjaqtut – Leg Wrestle

Nina Kuppaq and Brenda Qiyuk

Unfinished base of an Iglu, the snow was not very deep so they started cutting blocks away from the base

Animal tracks

Aqsarautijut – Arm pullsQigirluni Isimmigaq – High kicksIglukisaaqtuuk – JugglingNallukaqtaqtut – Caribou skipping

Continued on page 11

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Inuit Game Stations

Exchange students

Siv Carita and Hellin Pietikainen were ex-change students from Sami University. Siv was placed with Michelle Tagak in an Early Childood Program, a Kindergarten class-room and Hellin was placed with Clyde Steele at Joamie Elementary School in a Year 5 classroom.

As part of a 3-week NTEP course, ESCI 100 (Culture), the class, including Siv and Hellin, did a presentation for Nanuq Elementary School in Apex. There, Siv partnered with an Inuk student to present combined

throat singing/yoiking songs. They were asked to present their songs at the opening of the Toonik Tyme festival.

Del Fraser, Instructor in the Nunavut Teacher Education Program at Nunavut Arctic College – Nunatta Campus, Iqaluit, made the arrange-ments for the students during their time in Iqaluit.

Greetings from Iqaluit

Iqaluit EDCS 300 Class (Yr. 4)Instructor: Monica Ittusardjuat)

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New Director of Education Programs

Brian Manning is the new Director of Educa-tion Programs for the Nunavut Teacher Edu-cation. Prior to coming to NTEP, Brian served as Principal of Nakasuk School in Iqaluit, and before that he was Principal of Qarmartalik School in Resolute. In 2010, Brian became the first recipient from Nunavut to win Parks Canada’s prestigious “Ambas-sador in Education” Award. Brian has worked as an educator in Nunavut for over 10 years.

practices, field experi-ences, and technology integration. Julie is now serving in the role of NTEP Liaison for the Faculty of Education, U of R.

In February 2011, a jointly sponsored U of R/NTEP Professional Development Sympo-sium was held in Iqaluit. One of the keynote presenters, Brian Manning, then Principal of Nakasuk Elementary, shared “From a School Perspective.” Another keynote presenter, Julie Machnaik, U of R instructor, facilitated a workshop for EPS instructors on teaching

Professional Development Symposium

Julie MachnaikNTEP Liaison, Faculty of Education, U of R

Brian Manning

A workshop facilitated by Julie Machnaik, the new U of R NTEP Liaison

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Nunavut Teacher Education Program Students Take a Class at the University of Regina

Eighteen third-year Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP) students, from Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Iqaluit, were on campus at the U of R, Regina, May 9-17, 2011, to take one of three courses: EAES, ESST, or EMTH 215. NTEP Instructors Mike Pickles, Neil Christopher (coordinator), and Margaret Bentham (coordinator) accom-panied the students. As part of their course requirements, students offered cultural presentations in classrooms at four Regina schools (Argyle, Arcola, Sacred Heart, and St. Josephat).

U of R instructors Mike Cappello, Lil-lian Forsythe, Ann Kipling Brown, and Norm Yakel facilitated the courses. Julie Machnaik, along with two of her U of R pre-interns, Allie Woiden and Erin Top-

pings, shared ideas and experiences for integrating technology in an elementary classroom. Dr. Michael Tymchak, U of R, whose negotiations were central in es-tablishing the partnership with Nunavut Arctic College, NTEP, was responsible for organizing the trip.

Government of Nunavut, Department of Education officials, Nunavut Arctic Col-lege President, Daniel Vandermeulen, and NTEP administrators, Monica It-tusardjuat (Acting Director), Jim Legge (Program Manager), and Leigh Clark (Instructor) arrived from Nunavut for a Partnership Committee Meeting on May 16, 2011, with U of R Faculty of Education representatives, Dean, James McNinch, Ministry of Education officials, and an STF representative.

Daniel Vandermeulen, NAC President, speaks on partnerships that build

capacity

Partnership Committee Meeting

Third-year NTEP students

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Social Network and Online Technologies Assist NTEP in the Delivery of a Specialized Course

Last fall, I (Neil Christopher) had the opportunity to explore the practical application of online technologies to assist with the delivery of a specialized course for Nunavut Arctic College. In October 2010 the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP) was offering two educational media studies courses (EDMS 200) in two communities —Kugluktuk and Baker Lake—at the same time. This is a fairly new course offered in the NTEP program and there are not many instructors familiar with the course content. I was contracted to teaching the course in Kugluktuk; however NTEP could not find an instructor that could fill the same time-slot in Baker Lake. Together, NTEP coordinator, Jim Legge, and I came up with a potential solution—to use the emerging technologies promoted in the EDMS 200 course to allow both communities to be connected and work together (which would allow one instructor, me, to be the lead instructor in both communities). For Baker Lake, we located an instructor, Aron Slipacoff, who had a background in educational media studies. However, Aron lacked experience teaching at the college level and was not familiar enough with the specific course content to teach the course on his own. Since I had taught the course several times, I was quite comfortable with the course material, pacing, and sequence. Using a website tool called a “Ning”, I was able to create a closed, online social network that Aron and I would use to assist with the delivery of two courses and allow students in both communities to share their thoughts and ask questions. To view

the social network developed for this course, please go to the following link – http://ctep-edms200.ning.com/

Our social network was like Facebook or MySpace; however it was closed or private. By closed or private, I mean that a person had to be specifically invited by the administrator (Aron and myself ) to able to participate in this online community (it was not “open” to the public). This aspect of the course allowed the course instructors to protect the students from unwanted interruptions, spam, online mischief, etc. It also made the students more comfortable to share their views and opinions, as these could only be viewed by other students in the course who would be sharing as well.

Each evening, Aron and I met on the phone to discuss how the students were handling the workload, online tools, computer skill acquisition, etc. Also, these evening debriefings allowed us to discuss strategies to support students that were not as comfortable with these online tools and how to handle their frustrations (very common for new students to become frustrated).By the end of the course, students had been exposed to social networks, blogging, twitter, online photo sharing, geotagging photos and video, video sharing, podcasting, etc. As we read the summative papers (which were alldone online), Aron and I realized that all the students were leaving the course with a much deeper understanding of emerging online technologies. Even with the limited

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bandwidth that is the constant complaint of educators and students across Nunavut, students produced final online papers that demonstrated understanding and skill acquisition. Many of these final assignments were full of links, photos, and even embedded video of the students themselves expressing what they had learned in edited and uploaded videos. I feel that the linking of these two courses and communities (Kugluktuk and Baker Lake) was a valuable experiment in course delivery augmented by emerging online tools. In the end, I was pleased that this course,which encouraged the extension of the classroom into the larger online, global community, was actually successful in doing what it advocated.

The medium used to deliver the course actually corresponded perfectly with the content being taught! I think there are many applications for emerging online tools to be used to enhance and broaden possible course offerings at NAC. However, I also clearly saw the need for “human contact”. Although I was the “lead facilitator,” this course would not have been successful without Aron’s work in Baker Lake. Student new to this form of learning greatly benefited by having someone on-site to assist them. However, this on-site person does not have to be an expert. Even with the current limits to bandwidth and connectivity, it is possible to have CLC instructors (who are comfortable with computers and basic online tools) help facilitate learning experiences

for their community students while the course “expert” is somewhere else in the world. I imagine that this course delivery model would allow us to better use the human resources at the college and allow us to enrich the learning experience of our students (while keeping down the costs of course delivery).

I hope I have another opportunity to use online tools and environments to experiment with specialized course offerings in smaller communities. I encourage all NAC educators to take EDMS 200 (or a similar course) andbegin using these tools in their own courses/communities. Perhaps an educational media studies course, such as EDMS 200, could be a summer course offered to all interested NAC staff?

Reprinted (condensed version) with permission from 2020 Vision, online at: www.arcticcollege.ca/blogs (Author: Neil Christopher, NTEP instructor, Nunavut)

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The film is funded by Nunavut Film, Inhabit Media Inc. and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. This film will be available in English and Inuktitut. The English version is narrated by award-winning, Inuit singer, Beatrice Deer. And the Inuktitut version was translated by NTEP instructor and Inuktitut language specialist, Monica Ittusardjuat and is narrated by one of Igloolik’s Artcirq performers, Terry Audla.

This film has been honored by the Imagine NATIVE film festival committee, as being the short film selected for screening on the premiere night of the festival in the TIFF Lightbox in Toronto on October 19, 2011.

The Imagine NATIVE film festival is the premiere film festival in Canada for Aboriginal themed productions.

We are very proud of the efforts of Louise and Neil for their ongoing efforts to preserve and promote the Inuktitut language and culture of Nunavut.

Reprinted from nunavutecho.ca (Author: Brian Manning, Director of Education Programs, NTEP)

Teacher Education Program Instructors, Louise Flaherty and Neil Christopher, have partnered with award winning animator, Daniel Gies to create their first animated film for Nunavummiut youth. This animated film is part of a larger cultural preservation initiative aimed at getting young Nunavummiut interested in the rich storytelling traditional of their Inuit ancestors. The film is called, Amaqqut Nunaat: The Country of Wolves. It is based on an Inuit traditional story that can be found across Nunavut. The film is dedicated to the late Mark Kalluak. Mark introduced Louise and Neil to this traditional story. Sadly, Mark was not able to see the finished product before he passed away earlier this year.

Nunavut Teacher Education Program Instructors to Premiere Animated Film in Toronto

Louise Flaherty and Neil Christopher

A Publication of SIDRU, Faculty of Education, University of ReginaEditorial Team: Michael Tymchak, Kaviq Kaluraq, Shuana Niessen