Staff Xmas Potluck & Christmas Concert

Inuujaq School’s Events Committee organized an evening staff Christmas potluck dinner for Friday, December 9.  The event was held in the gym and staff were encouraged to bring whatever they wanted to the dinner . . . with a few exceptions.  District Education Authority (DEA) members and Elders were also invited.  A list was posted in the main office for people to write what they were bringing.  It’s a good way to cover all parts of a full course meal and avoid bringing the same dishes.  Although, I suppose there are some cases where that’s acceptable.

Staff transformed the gym into a dining hall using tables, chairs, table cloths, coffee machine, cups, and cutlery.  A Christmas tree was set up to add more to the décor.  People placed the food they brought on a long row of tables lined up against a wall.  My contribution this year was milk chocolate finger biscuits and wafers in various flavours.  (These were store bought).  There was more than enough food for seconds.

The dinner began with the principal welcoming everyone to the event.  An Elder blessed the food and then everyone was invited to the buffet tables.  I waited until the line got smaller before loading my plate with food.  People had the option of using paper plates & cutlery provided by the school or their own.  I brought my own.  There was a variety of foods to choose from.

Christmas themed music played in the background as everyone enjoyed their meals.  The teachers I sat with talked about what their plans for the holidays were.  Quite a number of people including me went back for seconds. 

The event continued with Secret Santa.  Participants picked names out of a hat a few weeks in advance and spent the week before the dinner secretly giving gifts to the people they picked.  Participants revealed who’s names they picked at the potluck dinner, but not immediately.  The way the final game works is a participant has three chances to guess who their Secret Santa is.  If they guess correctly, they receive their final gift from that person.  If they don’t guess correctly, their Secret Santa still announces who they are and give them their final gift.  The process continues until all participants receive their final gifts.  Most participants show what they received to the audience.

The principal gifted each staff member a writing case made by The Bugatti Group.  They’re not affiliated with Bugatti Automobiles.

The last activity the staff played was a cup flipping game.  You had to flip a cup once and make it land perfectly to stay in the game.  If the cup landed on its side, you’re out.  The prize was a secret present.  The circle quickly dwindled and eventually a winner was declared.

Staff & invited guests were allowed to take any leftovers home.  Once the leftover food was out of the way, everyone cleaned the gym and put everything away. 

Pre-School.

Inuujaq School held a Christmas Concert at the community hall on the evening of December 13.  It was the first concert since 2019.  We had to cancel in 2020 & 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  I think a lot of people in the community were excited and glad to see the return of the concert because the community hall was packed on the night of the performance.  Staff & students prepared for the concert in advance. 

Grade 2.

Grade 3.

The concert consisted of 12 performing acts.  The school staff decided to open the concert with a skit about Santa coming to visit the school.  The pre-school class sang the song “Mary’s Boy Child”.  Kindergarten did a two-part performance, a dance dressed as butterflies and singing a Christmas song.  Grade 1 did a skit on the meaning of Christmas.  Grade 2 sang traditional Inuit songs and played the Inuit drum.  Grade 3 sang, “Silent Night” in Inuktitut and English.  Grade 4 students demonstrated their skills in drum dancing, square dancing, and throat singing.  Grade 5 also did a dance number, but to the song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”  Grade 6 did a skit involving emojis while Grade 7 danced to the song, “I Got A Feeling.”  It was at this time I gathered my drummers in the main hallway to assemble our drums.  The Grade 8 class performed a Christmas skit revolving around the recent popularity of TikTok, a video-sharing website.

Grade 6.

I was told that when the curtains closed after Grade 8 finished their performance, all the kids in the hall crowded around the front of the stage, eager to see my drummers perform.  I didn’t notice because I was too focused on the upcoming performance.  My drummers & I had the honour of being the final act.  We were going to finish the concert with a bang.  I led my drummers onto the stage, carrying our instruments.  Some people helped us by bringing the music stands and sticks.  The emcees kept the audience occupied as my drummers & I hastily got ready.  I instructed my drummers to take a deep breath, relax, and to let go of all future mistakes.  If you keep going and/or act like you were supposed to play it that way, then no one will notice.  I also added the performance would be over fast.  I stood behind my drum and signaled the stage crew to draw the curtains.  Our performance began.

A sea of people watched me raise my sticks into the air and click them 4 times.  My drummers & I immediately launched into our first piece.  The snare drummers played with snares off because snares on are too loud inside the hall.  The audience applauded after we finished playing the first piece.  We switched sheet music, waited for the audience to stop clapping, and then I clicked my sticks 4 times again.  This process was repeated one more time.  The drumline played 3 group pieces. 

I took centre stage and played a snare drum solo to the delight of everyone.  I took a quick bow to the audience after striking the snare drum for the last time.  I stepped back and the curtains were drawn.  The high school drumline breathed huge sighs of relief.  We survived.  Hopefully we inspired the younger students to take up drumming and/or music later in life.

The emcees thanked everyone for attending and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  The drummers & I packed up the drums while people left the community hall.  The drummers also helped me transport the instruments & equipment to the school.  Frank let me borrow one of his trucks.  Thanks!  Another successful concert for the history books.     

Parents Night Parade & Last Cadet Day Of 2022

I held a Parents Night Parade (PNP) on Wednesday, December 7 for the army cadets of 3045 Cadet Corps.  They accomplished quite a bit since the October parade, so it was only fairly to publicly acknowledge and reward their efforts.  The cadets were given advance warning, and worked hard on their drill & uniforms.  I recruited the Grade 6 teacher to be the Guest Reviewing Officer (GRO). 

The hour before the parade followed the same routines from the previous PNP.  The cadets and I turned the gym into a parade square by assembling chairs, tables, flags, banners, sound system, and a reception table.  I placed the badges and awards on the main table last.  The cadets changed into their dress uniforms and anxiously awaited the arrival of their families & friends.  The senior cadet formed up the cadets and took attendance.  While this was happening, I spoke to the GRO about parade duties.  They were: inspect the cadets, observe the March Past, give a brief speech, and assist me in handing out badges and awards.

The parade began at 6:30pm.  I marched into the gym with the GRO following behind.  We received the General Salute and the GRO inspected the cadets on parade.  I did a brief welcome speech to the audience while this happened.  The cadets then did a March Past to showcase their platoon drill.  The GRO then gave a brief speech, commending the cadets for their dress, drill, and deportment.

Level 1 Marksmanship.

Level 3 Marksmanship.

The GRO & I continued the parade by handing out awards.  We started with the usual two: marksmanship and physical training (PT).  Three cadets achieved Level 1 Marksmanship and one cadet achieved Level 3 Marksmanship.  (Level 1 is the lowest & Level 4 is the highest).  Three cadets achieved Bronze PT, two cadets achieved Silver PT, and one cadet achieved Excellence PT.

Next, I announced the three winners of the Fall Biathlon competition in late October.  To ensure fairness, I divided the competing cadets into three groups: First Years, Second Years, and Seniors.  The winners received military-themed t-shirts and bragging rights.

Two senior cadets attended a Year 5 leadership workshop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in November.  I called them to the front to be publicly recognized for successfully completing the course. 

Cadet being promoted to Lance-Corporal.

The last presentation the GRO & I did was promoting a cadet to the rank of Lance-Corporal.  The rank badge is one chevron. 

The parade concluded with an Advance-In-Review-Order and a General Salute.  The GRO & I exited the gym.  The cadets were dismissed and the parade officially came to an end.  I thanked the Grade 6 teacher for volunteering his time to be the GRO. 

The cadets & I posed for a group photograph and then attended the reception.  The reception lasted about 20 minutes.  The cadets & I needed another 15 minutes to clean the gym.  I congratulated the cadets for another successful PNP and dismissed for the night.

Saturday, December 10, was the last day for cadets before the Christmas Break.  The cadets played sports & games in the gym, and I finished the day with a candy toss.  I started doing candy tosses in 2017 when I had leftover Halloween candy and wanted to get rid of it.  It’s more of a candy dump than a toss.

Prior to the event, I have the cadets assemble the gym mattresses to form a large square.  They take their shoes off and receive a large Ziploc bag.  They stand along the perimeter of the square while I go up to the second level and fill a large cardboard box with candy.  Once I receive an all-ready from the cadets below, I pour all the candy onto the gym mats.  The cadets rush into the centre and try to grab as much candy as they can.  It’s gone in a matter of seconds.  The cadets help me put all the mattresses away after the candy has been claimed.

The cadets formed up so that I could wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  They wished me the same.  I let the senior cadet in charge dismiss the cadets for the final time in the year 2022.  We would reform in early January 2023.  

 

Country Food, A Gathering, & A New Machine

Warning: Some of the following images in this post may be considered graphic.

Sorry for the long wait, but I’ve decided to summarize the remainder of November rather than write a few micro-blog posts.

The local District Education Authority (DEA) purchased several pounds of caribou (tuktu) meat for the purpose of distributing it to students.  The meat most likely came from the Nunavut mainland because there is a caribou hunting restriction on Baffin Island.  The herd is quite small and needs time to repopulate. 

The frozen meat arrived on November 17 and was placed on flattened cardboard boxes on top of a large blue tarp in the Home Ec Room.  The meat was packed in large black Rubbermaid bins.  The meat had been cut up into fairly large sizes, but I assumed they would be cut into smaller pieces to guarantee equal distribution.  Judging from the meat on display, I think there were pieces from every part of the caribou. 

The meat was handed out at the end of the school day.  Students were first and staff were second.  I took a small piece.  The meat can be eaten raw or cooked.  I’ve done both.  Caribou tastes like beef.  I call it “the chicken of the North” because when you eat other Arctic animals (with the exception of fish), they taste like caribou. 

Inuujaq School held an Elders Gathering in the gym on the afternoon of Saturday, November 19.  The purpose of the gathering was to connect with local Elders and encourage them to sign up for the school’s Elders List.  They would be authorized to come into the school to give talks, lessons, and extra supervision.  The RCMP were also present at the gathering to help interested Elders fill out the police check forms.

The school ordered country food & store-bought food.  Tables and chairs were set up around the gym.  One row of tables contained fruits, vegetables, snacks, desserts, caribou stew, and a variety of beverages.  Large pieces of frozen caribou and seal meat lay in the middle of the gym on top of flattened cardboard boxes and a blue tarp.  Large & small ulus (knives) were ready to be used to cut the frozen meat.

Quite a few Elders came to the gathering.  I joined the ones sitting around the frozen country food and ate a few slices of caribou meat.  Dipping it in soy sauce makes it tastier.  I also had a small plate of food.  School Administration and teachers mingled with the Elders and discussed various topics.  I didn’t stay until the very end because I had school work that needed attention.  I think several Elders did sign up to be included on the school’s approved Elders List.  The staff would be informed of the updated list in the following week.

Dark season has been in full swing since November 11.  The sun no longer shows itself, only rising behind mountains and then sinks back down.  I have enough Vitamin D pills to see me through until the sun returns.  I’m still not convinced on buying a sun lamp.  Speaking of light, I always carry a flashlight when I’m outside during this time of year.  It just makes things more manageable.

I decided to upgrade my transportation capability by purchasing a new skidoo (snowmobile).  The Northern Store had a 2022 Backcountry model they (somehow) didn’t sell last year and the manager offered it at a lower price.  I agreed and put in a big downpayment.  It’s great when you have most of the money on hand.  I will pay off the remainder in a few weeks. 

I took possession of my new machine on November 27.  It drives quite well.  I’m going to wait until the spring to take it out on the land.  As for my old skidoo, I’m going to hold on to it for a little while longer and then maybe sell it.

      

Remembrance Day (2022)

School was closed for Friday, November 11, because of Remembrance Day.  This allowed the army cadets of 3045 & I to hold a community Remembrance Day ceremony at the community hall.  Preparations for the ceremony began weeks in advance.  The program mostly stays the same; finding volunteers is the challenge.  It’s good to get the community involved.  Cadets are assigned several parts too.  (More on that coming up).  I also asked for donated decorations from classes at Inuujaq School.  The cadets & I practiced the drill several times before the day arrived.

The cadets & I arrived at the community hall an hour early to set everything up.  Two Hamlet staff members assisted us.  A large colourful poster prepared by the Grade 4 class was placed centre stage (literally) to serve as a background.  Other decorations were taped on the walls.  We placed rows of chairs in the centre, and four chairs & a podium in front of the stage.  A box of poppies was placed on a table in the foyer for people who didn’t have any.  Prior to the start of the ceremony, the cadets formed up in the foyer and attendance was taken.  I instructed them to take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and not worry.  I wished them good luck, took my position at the podium, and signalled the start of the ceremony at 10:45am.

The cadet flag party marched to the front and deposited the flags of Canada and cadet corps.  The two cadets then took their positions as left markers.  The remaining cadets marched into the hall and formed a platoon next to the left markers.  The two local RCMP officers marched behind the cadets and stood next to the platoon.  They & the audience remained standing for the opening prayer.  I invited the audience to take their seats thereafter.

My Welcome Address was mostly the same as last year’s except I mentioned the ongoing war in Eastern Europe.  I briefly described how Remembrance Day came to be and how Canadians answered & continue to answer the call to defend freedom.  My speech was translated into Inuktitut by a community member.  

Everyone stood for the playing of “O Canada”.  Two community members read a Bible passage in English & Inuktitut.  The audience then sang the hymn, “Abide With Me” in both languages, accompanied by an instrumental track.  What followed was the most important six minutes of the entire ceremony: Last Post, Minute of Silence, Piper’s Lament, and Reveille.  The cadets & I had to stand at Attention for all six minutes, but we did practice several times before.  The audience stood too, but they were allowed to move.

The Act of Remembrance was read in Inuktitut & English by two community members.  Two other community members read Psalm 121 in both languages.  Several cadets took over the ceremony by explaining how the poppy became a symbol of Remembrance Day and how the plant inspired the late Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae to write his famous poem “In Flanders Fields”.  Three cadets then recited the poem for the audience. 

A cadet laid a wreath in front of the podium.  An RCMP officer did the same.  Members of the public were invited to lay their own wreaths.  The audience then sang the hymn “O God Our Help In Ages Past,” accompanied by an instrumental track.  Everyone remained standing for the playing of “God Save the King”.  An Elder said a final prayer and I thanked everyone once again for attending the ceremony.  The cadets & RCMP marched out of the hall, bringing an official end to the ceremony.

The cadets, RCMP, and I posed for photographs and then helped with the cleanup of the community hall.  I personally thanked the cadets again for participating and congratulated them on a job well done.  I dismissed them for the rest of the day.

Lest We Forget.

On a more positive note, Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully liberated the city of Kherson, the final triumphant act of the Kherson Counteroffensive.  The city’s residents greeted Ukrainian soldiers with open arms, raising Ukrainian flags, and chanting “Slava Ukraini!”  Ukrainian forces now have to consolidate, rearm, and defend until their ready to launch the next counteroffensive.  Unfortunately, Russian forces are still active on the other side of the Dnieper River and are still shelling the city.  It’ll still be a long time before Ukraine fully expels the orcs from its lands, but the victories in Kherson and Kharkiv are good for now.   

Slava Ukraini!

 

International Inuit Day (2022)

International Inuit Day (IID), aka International Circumpolar Inuit Day, “was created to celebrate Inuit and amplify their voices.”  November 7 was chosen to be the day and as luck would have it, it occurred on a Monday this year. 

Inuujaq School’s Events Committee organized an afternoon assembly to commemorate IID.  A program was put together with the input of staff.  I was made the English emcee and another staff member was made the Inuktitut emcee.  The committee advertised the program and upcoming activities in the days leading up to IID.  Parents, guardians, Elders, and community members were also invited to the assembly.

Students & staff were encouraged to wear traditional Inuit clothing.  I wore a tie, vest, and poppy, all made from sealskin.  (I also wore pants, socks, a dress shirt, and shoes).  Southern teachers who didn’t have Inuit clothing wore borrowed outfits.  Elders visited middle & high school classes in the morning to speak to the students about several Inuit topics.

I set up a sound system in the gym and taped a large Nunavut flag to the wall for added decoration.  Everyone was called down at 1:30pm and the celebration began at 1:45pm. 

Grade 1 Teacher.

The emcees welcomed everyone and invited the Grade 1 teacher to light the ceremonial quilliq lamp.  This was followed by short drum dance performance by two teachers.  Two community members volunteered to perform a throat singing duet to the delight of everyone in attendance.  The women did an excellent job showcasing their talents.

A Student Support Assistant (SSA) & teacher led a group of middle & high school students in a square dance performance for everyone.  They danced very well.   

The assembly moved on to the clothing fashion show.  It followed the same routine as the Halloween costume contest except this time students & staff modelled their traditional Inuit clothing.  Four judges selected a winner from each class & group.  The lucky winners received Co-op gift cards.  The judges were a teacher, custodian, community member, and a District Education Authority (DEA) member.

The next part of the assembly was Inuit Games.  During the planning process, four teachers volunteered to organize and play Inuit games with groups of students during the assembly.  The groups were divided by classes: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and High School.  Participating students would compete for prizes while the audience would observe and learn how to play the games.

Sittuqtaq

The Grade 1 teacher led the first game played by K-3 students called Sittuqtaq.  It’s a jumping game that reminds me of the Ukrainian hopak dance.  Hopak means “to hop”.  Participants first bend their knees so they’re low to the ground and then continuously kick their feet forward without falling.  The winner is the last person who didn’t fall or fell. 

Pigliqtaq

Students in grades 4-6 played Pigliqtaq and this was led by the Grade 4 teacher.  It’s similar to Sittuqtaq, except the students hop between feet & knees touching the ground.  Watching the students play made me think it would be easier for them to wear kneepads, but I think not wearing them is deliberate.  Pigliqtaq is an endurance game and the winner is the last person who can withstand the pain.

The next game was Iglukisaaq, a juggling game, and it was played by students in Grade 7-9.  The Grade 2 teacher led this game.  Students had to juggle three balls without dropping them.  The last student still juggling was the winner.

The high school students played Pakikuut, an arm pulling/wrestling game, led by the Inuit Culture teacher.

The Grade 2 class sang a few songs in Inuktitut.  One of the students played an Inuit drum while their classmates sang.

The assembly finished with one final short dance organized by a community member.  The woman sang while three girls danced in the middle of the gym.

The emcees thanked everyone for attending and wished everyone a happy International Inuit Day.  Students & teachers returned to their classes to get ready for dismissal.  Parents & guardians waited until the bell rang at 3:35pm to take their children home.