Students in Inuvik, N.W.T., schooled in local land claims

A new program in Inuvik, N.W.T., is teaching students about local land claims.

A social studies class at the East Three Secondary School was the first to take the program.

Diane Baxter, the Gwich'in Tribal Council's senior implementation adviser, and Inuvialuit elder Gerry Kisoun were invited to the class to speak with the students.

Baxter spoke about the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. Kisoun was able to talk with the class about the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

"Making it relevant for the students was really important," said social studies teacher Ethan Lavoie.

Lavoie explained the students were able to make their own set of questions for each visitor to ask about the two local land claims.

Kisoun said he is passionate about the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

"Their parents, their grandparents, their great-grandparents were some of those that sat at that table to help negotiate it," said Kisoun.

"I think it's very important for those students to understand and get better knowledge of what that land claim is. It's a living document — they should learn what it's all about."

The school says the program came from a public suggestion to learn about the local land claims.

Cole Fiedler works for the Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Council.

"One of the calls to action they had for us as a school board was to learn about the local land claims," said Fiedler.

"They wanted it outside of just the Northern Studies class."

Work began to create the program. Steve Dagar, Lavoie and Fiedler reached out to the community to find their local experts and build the framework for what the students would learn.