Sivulinuut Elders
Society
Arviat: an Intimate
Re-examination of Colonial Relations
Presenter: April Dutheil
Supervisors: Dr. Frank Tester, Dr. Paule McNicoll & Mr. Peter Irniq
School of Social Work
University of British Columbia
March 19, 2011
Nanisiniq:
Arviat History Project
A journey of “Discovery”
 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
April Dutheil



B.A. Honours Sociology Candidate
Northern Health Activist
Resident of Haida Gwaii
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)
Purpose
1) 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 #1
Open 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
material
 Qualitative interviews with Inuit & Qablunaat Elders
 Social 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 & youth
 Mentorship opportunities
Outcomes: Data still has to be
analyzed
Purpose #3
Creation of relevant educational resources
Methods:
 Culturally-relevant educational resources for the
Nunavut Department of Education
 Full-length documentary film
 Resources for social workers
Outcomes:
 Current curriculum development with Nunavut Department of
Education
 Academic paper on cross-cultural social work with groups
Purpose #4
Foster Inuit youth social identity &
self-esteem
Methods:
 Skills based training for Inuit youth
researchers
 Workshops on history, filming &
interview skills
 Qualitative interviews with youth
throughout project
 Cross-cultural educational
opportunities
Outcomes: Data still has to be analyzed
A Socio-Historical Approach:
Other Potential Impacts
 Challenges biomedical approach to Inuit mental & social
health
 Holistic well-being
 Incorporates Inuit traditional knowledge
 Inuit community partnerships
 Elders role in conceptualizing project
 Youth empowerment as an investment in community
building
 Addresses a multiplicity of issues
Future Directions
 A model for youth empowerment across Nunavut
 Applying traditional Inuit nutritional knowledge for
contemporary health solutions
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/SuicidePrev
ention-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)
Activities
 Summer 2010 Trip
 Prince of Whales Heritage Center in
Yellowknife
 University of British Columbia in Vancouver
 Upcoming trip to Ottawa
 Library 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)