June 2, 2023, Farewell Kangirsuk!

 June 2, 2023

Hello all, and farewell Kangirsuk!!

In the words of my dear friend, Sandy, at his retirement, " I am free, free at last!"  Wow, does it ever feel good!!  On some days, I thought this ordeal would never end, but it did.  And, I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to serve here in the north.  As I have told you all many times, it is the most challenging thing I have ever done--but hey-save the best for last.  

I have been trying to pinpoint the underlying cause of the challenge, and I guess their is no one reason.  It is very complex, and really no one has the magic wand that will be the silver bullet.  It is all about time, healing and the will to heal, and it will take generations.

Today we had a beautiful year end picnic out "on the land", as people say, and I had a lovely chat with our vice principal, Winnie Grey, who has taken the helm of the ship, with the sudden, and unexpected departure of the principal at Easter time.  Winnie's 14 year old son took his life last August, so she has had a rough time--and actually had been on a medical leave, but came back because the situation at the school had plummeted to such a low.  She picked up the reins, and she has the ship moving ahead, finally.

I was asking her about the little black berries that were every where--she told me that over the winter, they of course freeze and are like little rocks, but as soon as the snow goes, and the sun shines, they ripen quickly and are now ready for eating!!  How fascinating.  She went on to say it wasn't that long ago that her people were nomadic, and that at this time of year, they would return to the coast for the seal and whale harvests--right up the 1960's.  This was before the communities were established in the 1970's.  My point is that the transition from that way of life to the world of 2023, has been a time of sudden change.  But to embrace it, it takes much longer time.

I had a similar conversation with her sister, and parent of a student.  She is also a McGill graduate, and her fix on the situation here is that people are healing, a process of time is needed, and it will take a generation or two.

Lucy Grey is a researcher, and has been part of a team that published a study on the Dog Slaughter of the of the 1950's-1960's.  It is a hard, but important document to read.  It is available online--just check out Dog Slaughter--and she is currently working with the government for a settlement that will help the Inuit's continue their way of life with snow mobiles and other modern modes of transportation and devices.  In addition, they will be given the opportunity to become self sufficient in maintaining, and looking after the "modern" way.

So, my message is one step forward at a time.  I am so proud and happy to report that every child in my care can now read.  They know how to decode, and they know how to figure out what they are reading about.

The little boy with Apraxia has made great strides, he knows all the letters in the alphabet, the sounds, and he can make them.  He can identify pictures, and he can use sign language to communicate--all in one year--amazing.  The little boy on the autism spectrum is reading at a grade 4 level, is speaking, hugging me and looking right into my eyes.  The ADHD  kids can read, and actually sit still, hold a book, and take turns.  A miracle!!  Every struggle was worth it....they will be ok.

Hoping to see you all very soon, and to enjoy some good food and wine!!  Yahoo.

The African teacher, 2 from Cameroon, one from Madagascar.  They work very hard, and take care of the food and kitchen.

The lady in the pink coat is the chair of the Education Committee.  She is blind.  She has a degree from McGill in Social work.  She  works with Inuit and Cree in social service.  She is a very dynamic public speaker.  I really enjoyed her speech at the graduation.  She had all the Inuit standing and clapping.

This is the char we had for lunch.

Cooking the char.

Teacher colleagues.

Picking the lichen for burning.

Small black berries, ready for eating.

Enjoying the fresh snow melt.

Wood is from the scrap dump--he is breaking it by dropping a big rock on it.

Preparing the fish for the cooking.

Loading up at school.

Garbage pick up at school.

Hard workers!

My assistant, Vanessa, and the little boy with Apraxia.

I always call in any teacher who has a spare to work with kids.

Best student in the class.

This child missed a lot of school, and has real emotional issues.  But, on our last day, he totally surprised me by his smile, and his enthusiasm to read for our special councillor.

Being silly at graduation.

Winnie is the mc at the event.

Banquet before the ceremony.

Awards day.

Square dancing, doing the grand chain.

kindergarten graduation

Grade 3 reading.

Lydia's plant!!

Identifying the ingredients for the cookies we made.

Mixing up that batter!!

How to take the feathers off the goose.

The little boy who is on the spectrum--look at his concentration!!!

 

One morning, he was first coming in the morning.  I was distracted out in the hall way.  He came in, got his snack, and then sat down to work--for 30 minutes, all by himself.

I can print.