February 16, 2022

Check against delivery

Hello.

I want to begin by saying how much I love connecting with Nunavummiut. 

This has been another hard year for you, and for your students.

I join with parents across Inuit Nunangat in expressing my gratitude for the extraordinary effort required of you these past few years.

I would like to acknowledge that I am joining you from the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.

When I make this declaration, it’s not simply symbolic. It’s a declaration of truth and history.

For those of you newly arrived in Nunavut this school year, you are at the beginning of your journey to discover some of the rich Indigenous history of our country. In my experience, the most successful educators in the Arctic are those who look beyond the classroom into the community. Explore, learn and appreciate the much lived-in lands, culture and heritage of Inuit. This is all part of the reconciliation process.

I define reconciliation not in terms of one specific project, nor as having an end date. It’s an active work-in-progress to respect and understand each other. As educators, you are active participants in reconciliation through the work you do in and outside the classroom. It’s a weighty responsibility, but full of promise.

As educators, you have a unique and exciting challenge:

First: to ensure Nunavut students achieve an education on par with the rest of the country.

Second: to honour, celebrate, expand and reflect Inuit societal values in the classroom, and embed teachings with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. This includes a commitment to enrich the classroom with Inuktut.

I remember my own schooling, where my friends and I were not allowed to speak Inuktitut. Approaching the school each day we had to switch from Inuktitut to English out of fear we would be caught speaking our mother tongue.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons why, throughout my life, I have made it my goal to support positive experiences for Inuit and Indigenous children in school. In this way, I hope that we can move forward and heal from the pain inflicted by the education system and residential schools, and the generational trauma that was the burden of parents and grandparents.

Just over 10 years ago, when I was president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, we released the National Strategy on Inuit Education. One of its 10 recommendations was to establish a university in Inuit Nunangat. The vision was for a Northern institution providing a post-secondary education centred around Inuit culture and language. It’s important to establish milestones for education that inspire young people.

Another key recommendation of the strategy was the need to develop programs to encourage and support our youth to stay in school.

And this is where the role of educators is so important. All the best practices, tools and strategies you have developed to keep kids motivated and in school need to be shared!

I’m so encouraged when I hear of teachers who are going above and beyond to:

• Reach out to community members and involve them in the school.
• Engage parents in the goals of the classroom.
• Use the curriculum as a foundation for discussions on Inuit societal values.
• Encourage the use of Inuktut in the classroom.
• Take opportunities to discuss with students the real history of Canada and Indigenous peoples.
   

Over 10 years ago, when we were examining the challenges of education in Inuit Nunangat, Connected North was one of the first partners to come forward with a vision of bridging the achievement gap in education through technology. As you know, Connected North links classrooms across the North with speakers and educators from across Canada, particularly with Indigenous leaders and knowledge keepers.

The last two years have certainly driven this vision of remote learning farther than we ever imagined. Distance no longer has to mean isolation!

Through Connected North we have seen that robust technology can unlock infinite learning opportunities. It’s also an extraordinary tool to foster reconciliation by introducing Arctic communities, culture and heritage to the world.

Connected North is a tremendous story of the power of collaboration between government and business, and I am grateful to CISCO Canada for their early commitment to this wonderful project.

We know, however, that Canada still has far to go to improve connectivity.

In Nunavut, for example, the fastest Internet speed is still eight times slower than the Canada-wide average.

One of the reasons I have dedicated much of my working life to promoting new opportunities in education is how inspired I’ve been over the years meeting educators who are making a difference in the classroom.

I believe in you.

In your skills and dedication.

In your energy and determination.

One of the things that I brought with me to Rideau Hall is my first language—Inuktitut. Key words guide me, taught to me by my mother and grandmother, beginning with ajuinnata. There is no direct translation, but it’s an important concept for Inuit. Its essence is a promise to never give up. It’s committing ourselves to action, no matter how daunting the cause may be. May the spirit of ajuinnata be with you and your commitment to education in Nunavut.

Nunavummiut are relying on you to meet this challenge. Continue to educate yourselves on Inuit and Indigenous history, and listen to their stories. Encourage students not just to learn, but also to take care of their mental and physical health.

I would now like to turn the focus to you and your experiences teaching in Nunavut. Please tell me about your great successes in the classroom and how you are discussing reconciliation.

Merci. Miigwetch. Nakurmiik.