When Clyde River couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 find enough interested community members to sit on the district education authority, Terry Kalluk stepped up. That was close to 15 years ago.
HeSA国际影视传媒檚 been chair of the DEA SA国际影视传媒� the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 educational advisory board SA国际影视传媒� for the past five years.
SA国际影视传媒淚 have learned quite a bit,SA国际影视传媒� Kalluk said of his tenure.
With a new crop of high school graduates each spring, Kalluk has remained inspired to carry on with the DEA.
SA国际影视传媒淓very year when people graduate, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 always moved me, it always picks me up,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he more graduates, the better.SA国际影视传媒�
The recruitment of teachers is one challenge that has persisted, but Kalluk has watched more educators emerge from within Clyde River as some high school graduates have enrolled in the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP).
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 quite a few people who are graduating from NTEP, local people, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 something really, really good,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淗opefully there will be more after this.SA国际影视传媒�
KallukSA国际影视传媒檚 own education involved attending residential school, but he has many positive memories of his time in the classroom.
SA国际影视传媒淎t school, it was really helpful growing up like that. If it (wasnSA国际影视传媒檛) I wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have got involved (in education) today,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淩esidential school had quite an impact, (but) some were not always bad.SA国际影视传媒�
He wound up completing his education in what was known as the settlement maintenance program in Iqaluit. His studies served him well in his job at the weather office for 30 years until his recent retirement.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou need a lot of educationSA国际影视传媒� to get into the job at the weather office,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of numbers, a lot of fractions.SA国际影视传媒�
Following through with education is critical in todaySA国际影视传媒檚 world, emphasized Kalluk, who has one child who has graduated high school and another who is in Grade 4.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is important to stay in school,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 the most important thing right now, I think.SA国际影视传媒�
The observance of traditional practices, particularly in the spring, can result in temporarily reduced school attendance, Kalluk noted. However, there are important survival lessons to be learned on the land just like academic lessons in the classroom, he acknowledged.
Inuit culture is incorporated in school programming by including activities such as going out on the land with hunters in the spring and learning stitches from sewers in the community.
SA国际影视传媒淲e try to keep our culture alive,SA国际影视传媒� said Kalluk.
With Education Act changes pending in Nunavut, Kalluk is concerned that local control over schools could be reduced.
SA国际影视传媒淗opefully things will not change drastically,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲ith this new Education Act, the ministerSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be more into (decision-making) than what it used to be. With these changes that are coming, if they go ahead with it, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think ISA国际影视传媒檒l be interested in (being on the DEA anymore). The ministerSA国际影视传媒檚 trying to take over more and more of the DEASA国际影视传媒檚 responsibilities.SA国际影视传媒�
