The Last Day of School

The last day of the 2013-14 academic year was June 5.  A ceremony was held in the school's gym to commemorate the occasion and congratulate the students for their academic achievements.  As parents & elders filed into the gym alongside teachers & students, it was easy to notice a large colourful arch at the front.  The decoration was made by the school's kindergarten teacher, Abby, because her students were graduating to Grade 1.  The arch would serve as a great background for pictures.

            

The kindergrad began at 1:30pm with an opening address by Abby.  She then called upon each of her students to receive a certificate and pose for a picture.  All the kindergarteners were formally dressed for the event.  Many parents rushed to the front to snap pictures of their children using cameras, iPods, and iPads.

            

Dane addressing Inuujaq School
before receiving his gift.

The assembly continued with the presentation of gifts to the four southern teachers (Dane, Coreen, Sean, Amber) and one Inuit teacher (Marleen) who were leaving their positions to pursue other job opportunities in & outside of the community.  A sixth teacher was taking a year off for educational purposes but would return.  The principal summoned each teacher to the front to receive their gift, say a few words to the audience, and receive an applause for all their hard work.

            

Grade 1 perfect attenders.

Middle school perfect attenders.

The third and last segment of the assembly was the attendance awards for the month of May.  I was "drafted" to take pictures of the lucky K-12 students who received a certificate.  Their names were cast into a large draw that contained the names of perfect attenders from the previous months.  A name would be chosen from the elementary, middle, and high school grades.  The three chosen students would be awarded a brand new bike.  Three times the audience fell silent as a name was drawn, and three times they cheered when the winner was announced.  The winners were surprised but overjoyed to hear their names over the speakers.           

            

Eunice leads everyone in a cheer after announcing the first winner.

At the end of the ceremony, everyone headed outside for the year-end BBQ.  It was a little windy, so everyone had to hold on to their food.  There were hot dogs, hamburgers, juice and later on, deep fried hot dogs wrapped in bannock.  The bannock wrapped hot dogs were prepared by elders using Coleman stoves.  The stoves were placed behind a row of tables so that the wind wouldn't blow out the fires.  It was my first time having these types of hot dogs and they were delicious.  Everyone was dismissed when the BBQ area was clean and all the appliances & utensils were put away.

            

The high school students were looking forward to the summer months, having made plans to go camping, hunting, visit relatives in other communities, and/or just hang out with friends.  Many had asked if I was coming back next year, to which I replied, "yes."  As for me, I would be travelling down south for the summer to visit family & friends, and to enjoy the hot weather. 

            

I spent the weekend of June 7 & 8 deciding what to pack for my summer trip.  Monday, June 9 was the last day for Inuujaq School staff and the day was spent cleaning classrooms, staff room, putting orders in for next year, and returning keys.  I flew out of Arctic Bay on June 10.

            

As I continue to enjoy summer vacation at the time of this writing, I can't wait to see what new challenges await in early August.  So far, I know that six new teachers will be joining the staff and I will be the Nunavut Teacher's Association (NTA) Representative (Rep) for the school (think union rep).  I'm sure the first issue to be talked about is the new contract the union recently signed with the Government of Nunavut in May. 

            

Until then, I'll be taking a break from my blogging duties.

See you all in mid August!   

June 9, 2014

Spring Camp 14 - Part 2

As mentioned in my previous post, the middle school grades (7, 8, 9) spent all of Tuesday (June 3) at the camp site.  Following the approved schedule, kindergarten students were at the camp for Tuesday afternoon, the elementary grades (4, 5, 6) had all of Wednesday (June 4), and the primary grades (1, 2, 3) were assigned Thursday morning (June 5).  Friday, June 6, was the last day of Spring Camp and set aside for the staff of Inuujaq School.  It was a nice way for us to finish another successful year of teaching.

            

I left my duffle bag at home and only brought my backpack for the day trip.  I also left my Canada Goose attire behind because the weather was sunny and warm, with clear blue skies.  In its place, I wore my "southern" skiing parka, which would be considered a spring jacket in the north.  I only carried the essentials, such as: walkie-talkies, camera, binoculars, SPOT Device, compass, utensils, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a thermos full of hot chocolate!

            

The convoy left Arctic Bay at 9:30am.  The ice was still thick enough for skidoos & qamutiks to travel on, but cracks were beginning to form way out in Admiralty Inlet.  One of the Inuit teachers told me that by July 1st, all the ice would be gone.  We arrived at the camp site at 10am.  I was surprised to see a team of sled dogs eyeing us as we stepped off the qamutiks.  I was told that a local had been taking the younger children for rides during the week. 

            

The mountain I climbed last year.

I sat on the edge of a qamutik and poured myself a cup of hot chocolate.  People were also sitting around and munching on snacks.  While I drank, I gazed at the tall mountain I climbed last year.  It was time to pay an "old friend" a visit.  Dane, a Grade 4 teacher from the south, noticed me eyeing the mountain intently.

            

"Are you going to climb your mountain again?" he asked.

"Of course," I answered with a grin.  "It's been a year."

"Mind if I tag along?"

"No, of course not.  The views are great from up there."

"How long does it take to get up there?"

"About an hour and a half.  Two hours if you take your time."

            

The climbing path Dane & I chose.

I left a walkie-talkie behind so that the people in camp could communicate with us and inform us of any changes or emergencies.  We also began our hike right away rather than waiting after lunch.  These two important decisions were the result of my hiking experience last year.  I was nearly left behind because I began my trek after lunch and didn't bring walkie-talkies.  As a result, there was no way for anyone to tell me that they had come back from seal hunting much earlier and thus, were heading back to town in advance.  This time, things would be different.

            

Dane led the way and I followed his footsteps.  After clearing the first two small hills, I removed my jacket because I had worked up a sweat.  Upon reaching the base of the mountain, we were informed that all the other teachers were going seal hunting.  We bid them good luck and observed all the skidoos and qamutiks leaving the camp site.  They looked like small black dots but the sounds of their engines were still loud and clear.  We took a short 15-minute break halfway up the mountain.

            

The last hurdle to clear was the left side of the mountain that was covered with a smooth layer of snow.  Dane slowly climbed up the face on all fours, punching and kicking a path into the snow.  I followed his path.  We did this next to a line of protruding rocks in case we slipped and needed to grab on to something.  We made it to the rocky summit at around 11:40am.  The 360-degree views waiting for us were picturesque.                          

            

We moved to the back to get a good look at a long u-shaped corridor that was carved by snow and runoff water over many years.  The 2km corridor begins behind a mountain peak to the south of where we were standing.  You can see the peak when you fly in from Iqaluit, but you can't see what's behind it.

            

"It would be really interesting to explore what's behind that mountain over there," commented Dane, pointing to where the corridor begins.

            

"Yes it would," I agreed.  "But unfortunately, we don't have the time to make it there and back.  Some other time."

            

Seal hunters

In the distance, we could barely make out the little black dots on the ice that were the seal hunting parties.  It was easier to watch them using my binoculars.  They had been travelling from seal hole to seal hole.  We couldn't hear any gunshots so we didn't know if they caught anything or they were using harpoons.  After taking pictures of the rocks and mountains, we headed back the way we came.  

           

Dane descends.

Dane & I descended the mountain using different methods.  Dane played it safe and came down on all fours, taking it one limb at a time, following the path he created during the ascent.  I, on the other hand, just walked down the centre of the steep slope using my feet.  I had discovered that the snow was tightly packed and strong enough to support my weight.  I made sure my boots sunk deep into the snow with every step.  I photographed my man-made "staircase" when I got to the bottom of the slope.  The rest of the way down was mostly uneventful except for when we slid down the two hills in between the camp and large mountain we climbed.  We arrived in camp just as the seal hunters came back.

            

The staircase I created.

Hiking up & down the tall mountain behind the camp (dubbed 'Mount Adrian' last year) was a good form of exercise and a nice way to see the surrounding area.  Next year, I think I'll make a bilingual sign (English/Inuktitut) and place it on the mountain's peak and formally name it Mount Adrian.  I wonder if that will go over well with the local community?

            

Lunch began at 1:30pm.  Animal skins and tarps were laid out all around the camping area for people to sit and eat.  There was raw Arctic char, bannock, soup, juice, water, NutriGrain bars, and hot dogs.  I grabbed a freshly cut piece of raw char and consumed it without any difficulty.  It was like eating sushi without the roll of rice.  Then I moved on to the other selections.  Everyone chatted about the past year, the highs and lows, an what they were planning for the summer months.

            

At the conclusion of lunch, we took down the tents, collected all the garbage, and packed everything into the qamutiks.  After one final sweep of the camping area, everyone hopped onto a skidoo or qamutik.  The ride back to Arctic Bay was a fun experience, as always, and I managed to get a few good shots of the travelling convoy.  Overall, the day trip was a great success.  I can't wait until next year's spring camp.   

End of Spring Camp 14 Mini-series.

Spring Camp 14 - Part 1

The last week of May was dedicated to review and final exams.  I was glad that I had prepared my English and Social Studies exams the week before because there was no time during the May 23-25th weekend and the few days I spent reviewing all the necessary materials with my students.  My guitar students had a final performance test instead of a written exam, where they were required to perform a chosen piece in front of the class.  They were allowed to read the notes and would receive extra marks if they played the piece from memory.  I spent the last weekend of May marking exams & class work, and writing final comments on report cards.  I breathed a sigh of relief when all the paper work was completed.

            

The first week of June was the last week of school and it was set aside for the annual spring camp.  Every year, the teachers and students of Inuujaq School head out on the land to experience the traditional Inuit way of life.  Elders teach life skills such as seal hunting, sewing, fishing, preparing country food, and setting up camp.  Originally, it was to be held during the second week of May, but the school couldn't hire enough drivers because of the annual fishing derby that weekend.  Rather than cancel the event, the Spring Camp Committee decided to move it to the last week of school.  There was some concern that by then, the weather would be too warm and the ice would turn to slush, but the elders assured everyone that that wouldn't be the case.  Unfortunately, it would be too warm to build igloos. 

            

High school students and teachers were tasked to go out first, set up camp, and spend a night at the camp site.  Students could stay longer if the elders required assistance with the other classes during the week and if they got permission from school administrators.  I and another teacher would overnight with the students. 

            

It was a cloudy, overcast Monday morning (June 2), as I walked to Inuujaq School, carrying a backpack and duffle bag packed with clothing and other camping items.  Looking out towards the frozen bay, I noticed that visibility was poor behind the local airport.  Since the camping area was in that location, I assumed we would be dealing with cold winds and even snow.  I was surprised by this sudden change of weather because the skies had been clear for the last several days.  Old Man Winter had come back for a final sendoff.  To prevent cold & sickness, I wore my thick Canada Goose parka with lighter clothing underneath so that I wouldn't sweat.  I knew I would get many surprised looks from the students and staff because wearing Canada Goose clothing in June is practically unheard of.

            

Minutes before we were to head out, a meeting was called in the science classroom.  The elders had deemed the ice and weather conditions unsatisfactory, forcing them to postpone the trip until the afternoon.  Everyone was disappointed by the announcement.  High school students were dismissed for the rest of the morning and were instructed to be back at school right after lunch.

            

At 1:30pm, high school teachers & students, and elders made their way down to the ice where a convoy of skidoos and qamutiks were waiting.  Once everyone's belongings were loaded into the qamutiks, the students went back to school to get the food.  The convoy left at 2pm.  The weather was still overcast and it looked like there would be snow.  We arrived at the camp site thirty minutes later.  

            

We have arrived.

As we were unloading the tents and camp supplies, a few Inuit boys spotted a flock of snow geese congregating many metres inland, just to the right of the camping area.  They immediately gathered rifles, ammunition, and a white sheet on a wooden frame.  The sheet would be used as camouflage.  The boys went off to hunt geese, leaving the girls to help the elders pitch the tents.  The girls didn't mind because traditionally, the Inuit men did the hunting.  A Canadian Ranger, who was one of the drivers, spotted a smaller flock to the left of the camp, near the road to Nanisivik.  He headed off in that direction with his rifle, hoping to shoot at least one goose. 

            

I was surprised to see two dome-like camping tents, the ones you see down south, being pitched.  The Inuit prefer the large white Fort McPherson tents but I guess they were in short supply.  The silver and orange dome tents were for the male students, teacher (me), and skidoo drivers.  A women's washroom tent, that only contained a bucket inside, was set up at the rear of the camp.  I didn't want to know how or where the bucket would be emptied.  I also felt sorry for the person who would get stuck with that job.  As for the males . . . just make sure you're far enough from the camp.

            

Once the tents were up, the Coleman stoves were moved inside and turned on to heat the tents.  In the distance, a rifle shot was heard, echoing off the mountains.  The geese fled into the sky but landed in a clearing to the left of the camp, near the road to Nanisivik.  Another shot was heard several minutes later, but it came from where the geese landed.  The Ranger was the first to return with a snow goose in his hands.  The Inuit boys returned later, also with a snow goose.  Everyone congratulated them for successfully shooting the geese and took pictures of the fallen prey.

            

We feasted on hot dogs, chicken soup, granola bars, crackers, arctic char, and bannock to keep our stomachs full.  There were also juice, water, and hot chocolate to drink.

            

Snow began to fall in the late afternoon, leading to the cancellation of the seal hunt.  The low visibility would make it difficult to spot the creatures lying on the ice.  I was hoping to see the successful capture of at least one seal because last year, we only shot a hare.  To pass the time, the high school students went tobogganing and I went hill climbing.  I only hiked up the two small hills behind the camp; I would wait until Friday to climb the tall & large mountain for the second time (the first time was during last year's spring camp).  Despite the falling snow, I was able to get some decent pictures of the camp and landscape below.  Upon returning to camp, I passed the time doing whatever before retiring to my assigned tent for the night.     

            

Middle school students.

I was woken by a student the following morning, having enjoyed sleeping in for an extra hour.  I had breakfast in a nearby elder's tent, eating scrambled eggs on bread, with a side order of bacon.  The elders and students wanted to know if I was having fun, to which I replied yes.  After breakfast, I hung out in the tent reading Saqiyuq and sharpening my knives.  At 10am, I was interrupted by the sounds of approaching skidoos and loud voices.  The middle school students had arrived.  It was still snowing outside and a mild wind was blowing through the camp.  The students asked me how I enjoyed my overnight stay and I replied that it was quite good.  

An hour or two before lunch, several high school students took a few middle school students geese hunting near the road to Nanisivik.  Unfortunately, they were unable to shoot any snow geese.  The remaining middle school students played soccer baseball out on the ice.     

            

The high school students & I were driven back to Arctic Bay at lunch time.  A few students were allowed to stay behind to help the elders.  The ride was interesting because the falling snow made it appear that we were travelling in the middle of a serious whiteout.  Upon arrival, I headed home to unpack, shower, and change into cleaner clothes.  I had the afternoon off from school.

To Be Continued . . .