Morty Alooloo has been part of a resurgence of Inuit language and culture in the education system, and it comes after a childhood lessons from her dad, who endured just the opposite.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat really motivates me is my father was my hero. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 not around anymore, but he was really the one who taught me how to be an Inuk,SA国际影视传媒� said the Arctic Bay educator. SA国际影视传媒淗e never went to school, but he told me our language and our culture are very important to keep. He was around when the missionaries and the were starting to come up and (they) told him to forget about our culture and learn qablunaaq ways.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey werenSA国际影视传媒檛 even supposed to be talking about the (Inuit) legends and drum dances. They were supposed to get rid of them and never show their children, but my father told me, SA国际影视传媒榊ouSA国际影视传媒檙e Inuk. You have to know where you come from. ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to tell you lots of stories but I know itSA国际影视传媒檚 not going to be part of your life anymore because weSA国际影视传媒檙e in a big community now and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 government coming into our community. We have to listen to them.SA国际影视传媒� He told me to always listen to your boss and if you take a course, take it seriously. That motivates me to keep my language alive, and the culture.SA国际影视传媒�

Alooloo started her career in education as a classroom assistant in Arctic Bay in 1975. She worked her way up to become a principal, after attaining her bachelor of education degree through Nunavut Arctic College, in association with the University of Regina. She had strong family support, particularly from her mother and her husband, in raising children at the time, she recalled.

She transitioned from principal to learning coach after 18 months due to personal circumstances. Her primary functions in that role, which she still fills, are to ensure that teachers and students are on track with the curriculum and to support them with Inuktitut programming.

Find more stories on Nunavummiut advancing their education in the Degrees of Success 2022, available online here:

More Inuktut resources

Alooloo has seen a wealth of Inuktitut teaching aids made available over the past 40 years, many of them in the past decade.

SA国际影视传媒淚nhabit Media has produced a lot of resources for learning to read and write. I think we have so many choices,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Alooloo welcomes all of the tools because preserving the Inuit language is admittedly a big task.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel that (parents) are really caught in the middle, knowing a little bit about two cultures,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭herefore I notice a lot of students are struggling with learning a second languageSA国际影视传媒� we even have to start thinking about teaching Inuktitut as a second language for some young students, very young students.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e losing it (Inuktitut). ItSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of scary,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e use Inuktitut a lot in the community, but I notice the young, smaller students are really struggling.SA国际影视传媒�

One area where she would like to see improvement is student attendance in class, which is up to the parents.

SA国际影视传媒淓verything starts at home,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 number one for me, to get the parents to support their children in education.SA国际影视传媒�

At the other end of the spectrum, Alooloo always feels tremendous joy when it comes time for students to don their caps and gowns.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 always good to see so many graduates coming out of our school,SA国际影视传媒� she said of Inuujaq School, which usually cultivates close to 10 students earning diplomas each year.

To this day, Alooloo, who was one of the first graduates of the Eastern Arctic Teacher Education Program (a precursor to the Nunavut Teacher Education Program), is constantly seeking opportunities to expand her own knowledge and teaching techniques.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll the teachers that I worked with as a classroom assistant, theySA国际影视传媒檙e the ones that have really had an impact on my learning, how to become an effective teacher just by working with them,SA国际影视传媒� she said on a professional development day, when she was involved in video workshops on how to improve instruction in reading and writing, ideas for art classes and how to address CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in a classroom.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e got wonderful guest speakers from all over Canada online.SA国际影视传媒�

Despite a lengthy career, retirement isnSA国际影视传媒檛 something sheSA国际影视传媒檚 contemplating yet SA国际影视传媒� she intends to keep working as long as her health allows.

SA国际影视传媒淯s Inuk and Elders, I have big plans to share with the children,SA国际影视传媒� she said.