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Sivulinuut Elders Society. Arviat: an Intimate Re-examination of Colonial Relations. Presenter: April Dutheil Supervisors: Dr. Frank Tester, Dr. Paule McNicoll & Mr. Peter Irniq School of Social Work University of British Columbia March 19, 2011. Nanisiniq : Arviat History Project. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Arviat: an Intimate
Re-examination of Colonial Relations
Presenter: April DutheilSupervisors: Dr. Frank Tester, Dr. Paule McNicoll & Mr. Peter
IrniqSchool of Social Work
University of British ColumbiaMarch 19, 2011
Sivulinuut Elders Society
Nanisiniq: Arviat History Project
Inuit Elders & Youth from Arviat, Nunavut
Arctic history from an Inuit perspective
Two year multi-media history project
University of British Columbia & the Sivulinuut Elders Society
Funded by Social Science Human Research Council
A journey of “Discovery”
April Dutheil
Arviat, Nunavut
1,200 kilometers north of Winnipeg
Third largest town in Nunavut
Population approx. 3,000
Inuit History
Most dramatic assimilation period in history
Generational trauma & cultural stress
Widening generational gap due to globalization
Inuit youth less aware of culture
Tester & McNicoll (2004)
Inuit Youth in Arviat
74% of the Arviat population is under 25 years old compared to 35% of general Canada
Arviat: Highest birth rate in Canada 35/1,000
Suicide rates in Nunavut are eight times the rate of those in southern Canada 119.7/100,000 vs.
14/100,000
Hicks (2004); Tester & McNicoll (2004); White (2010)
Purpose1) Open a dialogue between Inuit & Qablunaat (people from the south) on essentialist and tightly scripted colonial histories of Nunavut
2) Bridge the gap between Elders & youth
3) Creation of relevant educational resources
4) Foster Inuit youth social identity & self-esteem
Methods
Participatory Action: Train five Inuit youth as student researchers in the history of the eastern arctic
Case Study Approach: Period of assimilation in 1950-60s which Inuit were relocated from the land to settlement life in Eskimo Point (Arviat)
Tester & McNicoll (2004)
Purpose #1Open a dialogue between Inuit & Qablunaat (people from the south) on essentialist and tightly scripted colonial histories of Nunavut
Method:Re-examine colonial relations by using archival
materialQualitative interviews with Inuit & Qablunaat
EldersSocial media: Nanisiniq.tumblr.com
Outcomes: Data still has to be analyzed
Purpose #2
Bridge the gap between Inuit Elders & youth
Methods:Qualitative interviews
between Elders & youthMentorship opportunities
Outcomes: Data still has to be analyzed
Purpose #3Creation of relevant educational resources
Methods:Culturally-relevant educational resources for the
Nunavut Department of EducationFull-length documentary filmResources for social workers
Outcomes: Current curriculum development with Nunavut
Department of EducationAcademic paper on cross-cultural social work with groups
Purpose #4Foster Inuit youth social identity & self-esteem
Methods:Skills based training for Inuit
youth researchersWorkshops on history, filming
& interview skillsQualitative interviews with youth
throughout projectCross-cultural educational
opportunities
Outcomes: Data still has to be analyzed
A Socio-Historical Approach:Other Potential Impacts
Challenges biomedical approach to Inuit mental & social healthHolistic well-being Incorporates Inuit traditional knowledge
Inuit community partnershipsElders role in conceptualizing project
Youth empowerment as an investment in community buildingAddresses a multiplicity of issues
Future Directions
References Hicks, J. (2004, January 24). Nunavut Kiglisiniaqtiit:
Evaluation and Statistics. Presentation to the Founding Conference of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Council, Iqaluit, NU.
Korhonen, M. (2006). Suicide prevention: Inuit traditional practices that encouraged resilience and coping. Retrieved from the Ajunnginiq Centre, National Aboriginal Health Organization website: http://www.naho.ca/inuit/e/resources/documents/SuicidePrevention-FinalEnglish_000.pdf
Tester, F. J., & McNicoll, P. (2004). Isumagijaksaq: Mindful of the state: Social constructions of inuit suicide. Social Science & Medicine, 58(12):2625-2636.
White, Patrick (2010, June 5). Inuit mothers fight for their children’s health. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=25989
Mutna!Thank you!
Questions
Cultural Penetration
“…is the unequal exchange of customs and values in a one way direction from the dominant culture to the smaller cultural groups.”
“The unequal exchange from Canada’s dominant culture has marginalized Inuit customs and values.”
Korhonen (2006)
ActivitiesSummer 2010 Trip
Prince of Whales Heritage Center in Yellowknife
University of British Columbia in Vancouver
Upcoming trip to OttawaLibrary and Archives Canada Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Youth & Elders invited to present at the 2012 Inuit Studies Conference at the Smithsonian Museum
Inuit Youth Suicide
Hicks (2004)
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