RANKIN INLET IS AN INUIT HAMLET ON KUDLULIK PENINSULA IN NUNAVUT, CANADA. LOCATED ON THE NORTHWESTERN HUDSON BAY, BETWEEN CHESTERFIELD INLET AND ARVIAT, IT IS THE REGIONAL CENTRE FOR THE KIVALLIQ REGION.
While the temperatures were not warm, the community, students and school definitely were! The Darkspark team worked at the amazing Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik School with a group of mixed Grade 7 & 8 youth. These students were so engaged in the arts, their home and culture. Their songs reflect a beautiful picture of their pride in who they are and where they come from.
We learned so much from these students and Elder Quluaq Pilakapsi about Inuit culture, and how important traditional ways of life were and are for survival in the north. The stories of resilience they shared won’t soon leave us. The Arctic is a place like no other – environmentally, the health of the north impacts the health of the world. Protecting it is vital!
While there, our team collaborated with partner teacher Emily Gee, local Rankin Inlet artist Terrie Kusugak, and Elder Quluaq Pilakapsi at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik School.
Thanks to Heritage Canada, Ilitaqsiniq – Nunavut Literacy Council, Government of Nunavut, National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts and the DEA for making this trip possible. Thanks also to Manitobah Mukluks for sponsoring our team – without you our feet would have frozen off!