Revisiting Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: Inuit Knowledge, culture, language and values in Nunavut Institutions since 1999 (original) (raw)

Qaujimajatuqangit and social problems in modern Inuit society. An elders workshop on angakkuuniq

Études/Inuit/Studies, vol. 26, n° 1, 2002, p. 17-44., 2002

Cet article présente les principaux résultats d'un atelier sur "L'intégration des Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit dans le domaine du contrôle social." L'atelier s'est tenu à Rankin Inlet en juillet 2000. Cet atelier a été organisé dans une perspective anthropologique avec l'objectif de recueillir la vision des aînés sur le contrôle social et sur l'angakkuuniq (chamanisme). À bien des égards, les résultats de ces échanges confirment le bien fondé des initiatives contemporaines visant à favoriser autant que possible la participation des Inuit aux différents processus juridiques, et en particulier ceux concernant les délits mineurs. Aujourd'hui, les savoirs traditionnels des Inuit ainsi que certaines de leurs valeurs fondamentales paraissent d'autant plus menacés que les aînés qui ont connu la vie nomade de jadis et vécu au contact des chamanes sont en train de disparaître, emportant avec eux des pans entiers des riches traditions chamaniques. Si la collecte de données auprès des aînés s'avère urgente sur ces thématiques, elle doit s'accompagner d'une prise en compte des richesses régionales et des variations locales. This paper discusses the main results of a workshop on "Integrating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into methods of social control" that was held in Rankin Inlet in July 2000. The workshop was set up from an anthropological perspective to record the views of Inuit elders on social control and angakkuuniq (shamanism). In many respects the results of the workshop confirm current trends and efforts to strengthen the involvement of Inuit communities in the judicial processes, especially with respect to minor offences. Today Inuit traditional knowledge and values are rapidly eroding. Many knowledgeable elders who grew up in the nomadic period and in contact with shamans are now passing away and with them disappears the knowledge of the great traditions of angakkuuniq and related beliefs and practices. Hence there is an urgent need to record knowledge from Inuit elders with due attention to its richness and local variation.

Transfer of Inuit qaujimajatuqangit in modern Inuit society

Inuit Studies, 2009

This paper explores the nature and transfer of Inuit knowledge. Using our experiences in setting up workshops with elders and youths in the past 10 years, we argue that the notion that Inuit qaujimajatuqangit can be viewed as a corpus of knowledge that can be integrated into academic programs is necessarily flawed. We suggest that more room should be given to Inuit elders and their knowledge by adapting the school system to Inuit perspectives rather than the reverse.

The Changing Tides of Education in Nunavut: A Non-Inuit Perspective of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit

T-Space, 2017

Despite the changing tides of educational policy and reform, the power imbalances that maintain control over the system of education in Nunavut remain largely the same, and relatively unchanged. It is through a push and pull between Inuit and non-Inuit goals that educational policy and practice shift, back and forth, as one new initiative after the other ultimately rises only to inevitably fall, with each new tide of change. Thus, examining recent reform and new initiatives by the Department of Education to promote student academic achievement and success, this qualitative study, through semi-structured interviews, explores how non-Inuit educators in Nunavut might interpret, support, and effectively implement the goals of education within their classrooms. As the majority of teachers are non-Inuit, this research project revealed that without clear directives and lacking key resources to effectively combine Inuit culture and values within mainstream education, non-Inuit educators undoubtedly struggle to understand enough about Inuit qaujimajatuqangit to effectively transform the vision and goals of education in Nunavut into one seamless and well balanced system of schooling.

Nunavik: Inuit-Controlled Education in Arctic Quebec by Ann Vick-Westgate

2004

Ann Vick-Westgate's history of education in Arctic Quebec presents a thoroughly researched and fascinating look at the evolution of education in one of Canada's most remote regions. Current interest in Aboriginal issues and local control of education make this a timely and much needed addition to the existing body of research in Aboriginal education and education history. Frequently Arctic Canada and the history and concerns of the Inuit are overlooked in Canadian academia, and this book begins to fill that hole. Vick-Westgate, although not Canadian or Aboriginal, has a long history of involvement with Aboriginal education in South Dakota, Alaska, and Sami areas of Scandinavia. She is particularly interested in the culture of school and the inherent difficulties with changing that culture. Vick-Westgate has been involved with the history of education in Nunavik since 1990 when she was asked to write a report based on the work of a task force assessing the Nunavik education system. This book grew out of that work and was written with four specific reasons:

An Inuit Based Policy Development Process

Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 2018

This paper explores the use of Inuit Quajimajatuqangit (IQ) and the policy formation process of the rational decision making model. Based on the current research of Inuit Canadians concerning parental involvement within northern schools, this paper examines how an Indigenous way of knowing can be infused with a non-Indigenous method of policy development. The majority of this paper reviews past policy that has been placed upon Inuit Canadians as the framework for understanding how Inuit arrived at the current educational situation. The author introduces how Inuit have taken up this situation, and are working in present day with a positive perspective. Keywords: Inuit Quajimajatuqangit (IQ), Pijitsirniq, Aajiiqatigiingniq, Pilirqatigiingniq. Inuit Quajimajatuqangit (IQ) is Inuit knowledge and societal values through which Inuit function. Pijitsirniq is the concept of serving. Aajiiqatigiingniq is consensus in decision making. Pilirqatigiingniq is working together for a common purpose...

Educating for Cultural Survival in Nunavut: Why Haven’t We Learned from the Past?

Paideusis, 2020

This is a paper about the culture of the Inuit in the Nunavut Territory of the Canadian Arctic, and the role that education should take in preventing its slow dilution, demise, and loss. The measures to be taken are evident. Inuit philosophy (Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit) must be the framework, and Inuit must be in control, not only of policy and curricula, but also of the school system, the schools, and the classrooms. It can take decades for outsiders embedded in a different culture to communicate and see through an unfamiliar worldview. Inuit do not have the luxury of time to wait for this to happen. Non-Inuit need to understand what Inuit are saying, to appreciate what they aim to achieve, and then get out of the way. If this is not done, the Inuit culture will go the way of so many other Indigenous cultures that once flourished. It’s inconceivable that we non-Inuit Canadians are willing not only to watch this happen but continue to be the cause.

Tukisivallialiqtakka: The things I have now begun to understand: Inuit governance, Nunavut and the Kitchen Consultation Model

2007

In this thesis I evaluate the role of Inuit governance in Nunavut's political space. To do this, I critically examine the practice of political consultation, as it is a site where government and Inuit communities interact. This thesis begins with an overview of the government structure in Nunavut and its consultation process. It then shifts focus to discuss the principles and practices supported within Inuit governance. A political and conceptual gap will be revealed. In response to this gap, I introduce and explore the Kitchen Consultation Model, a community based consultation model inspired by the principles and practices of Inuit governance. This model provides Inuit communities with a political framework to support dialogue and interaction within the community, supporting Inuit communities in designing solutions to address their challenges. This

Revisiting Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: Inuit Knowledge, culture, language and values in Nunavut Institutions since 1999 (original) (raw)

Related papers