Synopses & Reviews
Since the mid-twentieth century, sustained contact between Inuit and
newcomers has led to profound changes in education in the Eastern
Arctic, including the experience of colonization and progress toward
the re-establishment of traditional education in schools. The milestone
of the establishment of Nunavut Territory in 1999 was followed by the
2006 Berger Report, which drew attention to problems remaining in the
territory's education system.
As the first history of education in the Eastern Arctic, this
groundbreaking study provides the historical context needed to
understand educational challenges faced in Nunavut. With an emphasis on
cultural negotiation, policy making, and the role of tradition, Heather
McGregor assesses developments in the history of education in four
periods -- the traditional, the colonial (1945-70), the
territorial (1971-81), and the local (1982-99). She concludes that
education is most successful when Inuit involvement and local control
support a system that reflects Inuit culture and Inuit visions for the
future.
This groundbreaking study reveals that education was used not only
to assimilate Inuit but also to reflect and reinforce Inuit culture and
traditions. Its focus on the themes of cultural negotiation, policy
making, and the role of tradition will be welcomed by educators,
administrators, and researchers in Inuit and First Nations communities
across the North and anyone interested in the history of education in
Canada.