Inuit early-childhood educators begin historic gathering in Labrador

March 17, 2010 – Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador – Early-childhood educators from every Aboriginal head start program and child care centre in Arctic Canada came together today for the first ever National Inuit Early Childhood Education Gathering or “Nutaqavut Sivuniksavut” (our children, our future).
The conference is a celebration of Inuit early-childhood education (ECE) and represents the first time early-years teachers from each of the four Inuit regions in Canada (the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik in northern Quebec and Nunatsiavut in northern Labrador) have come together in one place to exchange ideas and learn from each other.
“These teachers represent the best we have to offer Inuit children and this gathering comes at a very exciting time – as we celebrate 2010 Year of the Inuit and make progress on a national strategy on Inuit education,” said National Inuit Leader Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, whose Early Childhood Development Working Group initiated the conference.
“I wish our teachers a rich and fulfilling conference with the fundamental hope that our children will benefit from the results of their deliberations."
“The early years lay the foundation for lifelong determinants of optimal health and well being,” said Diane Gear, minister of the Nunatsiavut Government’s Department of Health and Social Development, which is hosting the event. “By investing in our Inuit early-years teachers, we are investing in our Inuit children and our future.”
Programming for the two-day conference includes workshops on incorporating Inuit culture in the classroom, and an examination of best practices in Inuit communities.
For more information:
Patricia D’Souza
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
613/292-4482; dsouza@itk.ca