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)