6 Students Travelled from the Arctic to Cities in the South
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Ulukhaktok is a small Inuit community in the Northwest Territories.
- Ulukhaktok is pronounced OOH-look-huck-DOKE.
- Six students from Ulukhaktok went on a trip to visit museums in three cities across Canada in March.
- During the tour, they saw artwork and artifacts that were made by Inuit.
- Read on and check out the video the teens filmed while on the trip.
As Inuit teenagers today, we don’t live off the land like our people used to. We have access to modern technology, and fewer people speak our language, Inuinnaqtun, as much as before. Our ancestors lived in a time when survival depended on the land, utilizing nature for hunting and fishing without wasting anything. While some still engage in these traditional practices, the necessity has changed.
The six of us hail from Ulukhaktok, a small Inuvialuit community of about 400 people. Ulukhaktok is located in the Northwest Territories and is part of traditional Inuvialuit land, home to a group of Inuit who reside in the western Canadian Arctic.
We are Kaia Kanayok, Alyssia Irish-Memogana, Angel Kuptana, Krista (Krissy) Kitekudlak, Thomas Kimiksana, and Kaden Okheena, all students in Grades 11 and 12 at Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School. From March 23 to March 29, we embarked on a journey to museums in Yellowknife, Edmonton, and Ottawa to explore artifacts and artworks created by our ancestors.
(Image credit: Graphic design by Philip Street/CBC)
During our time in Ottawa, we had the opportunity to interview Whit Fraser, a journalist known for his reporting on the Arctic. Following our interview on March 27, we were pleasantly surprised by a visit from his wife, Governor General Mary Simon. In the photo below, you can see us with them, capturing a moment that blended our past with our present.
Leaving our home was crucial for us to understand our identity and how it connects to our past. This journey allowed us to see how our culture is showcased in the South, and it was a significant learning experience.
1st Stop: Yellowknife
Our first stop was the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife on March 24. Despite our tiredness and hunger (Krissy’s stomach was constantly growling), we were excited to explore. One of the highlights was a kid’s waterproof kamik, or shoe, discovered by archaeologist Charles Arnold at an archaeological site on Banks Island, Northwest Territories. This shoe, estimated to be 2,500 years old, reminded us of our ancestors’ ingenuity.
Seeing this ancient artifact was profound, as it represented a time before colonization when our ancestors created tools and clothing using traditional methods. Joanne Ogina, a young elder from Ulukhaktok who accompanied us, stood proudly next to a bronze carving of her grandmother, artist Helen Kalvak.
Krissy filmed some videos during our tour of the Northern Heritage Centre. Watch the video below to see a bit of what we experienced.
2nd Stop: Edmonton
On March 25, we visited the Provincial Archives of Alberta in Edmonton, where we explored collections of family trees. It was fascinating to see names of our family members from not too long ago, including the name Apiana, after whom Krissy and Kaia were named. This connection made the experience deeply personal, as we recognized names of relatives who are still alive today.
We also listened to an old recording of Helen Kalvak telling a story in Inuinnaqtun. It was special to hear her voice, especially since our school is named after her.
3rd Stop: Ottawa
From March 26 to March 29, we explored Ottawa, where we visited the Parliament Buildings and toured Rideau Hall and the Senate of Canada Building. The bustling city was a stark contrast to our quiet home in Ulukhaktok, where the biggest building is our school. The noise and activity were overwhelming, but also exhilarating.
The South has different things to experience than in the North, so some of us got to try certain things for the first time. Watch the video below to see what we mean.
Staying in an Airbnb on a busy road made it hard to sleep and focus. In Ulukhaktok, the quiet of the night allows us to hear the animals and the waves of the Arctic Ocean. The contrast was striking.
At the National Gallery of Canada, we were thrilled to see artwork by Ulukhaktok artists. One piece depicted a woman’s hands and tattoos by Helen Kalvak, while another showcased various animal hides by Victor Ekootak. However, it was bittersweet to see our culture represented so far from home, raising questions about how these artworks arrived there.
How the Trip Helped Us Understand Our Culture
This trip was a transformative learning experience that we may never replicate on such a scale again. It deepened our understanding of our ancestors’ lives and connected us more closely to our culture. We began to reflect on the differences between our current lives and those of our ancestors.
At the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, we had the chance to touch and hold traditional Inuit tools. We even used a pair of scissors to cut Alyssia’s hair! This hands-on experience highlighted the importance of understanding the tools our ancestors used for hunting and fishing.
We realized that as Inuit teens, we could connect with our culture by engaging more with our grandparents and elders and spending time on the land. The reality is that there will come a time when we can no longer share stories of Inuit history with our elders. Cherishing these moments and preserving our culture is essential.
Want to see more of the kids’ journey? In September, CBC Kids News will publish a documentary to mark National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. In the video, we follow the kids on their trip as they explore themes of Inuit identity and repatriation — returning objects that originally came from their land.
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