Inuit visions for schooling in one Nunavut community

English) ix (Inuktitut Non-technical Summary) xi Non-technical Summary (English) xix 0. Introduction 1 0.1 Personal introduction 2 1. Review of the Literature & the Context of Schooling in Nunavut 6 1.1 Failing schools and assimilation: A brief history/present 6 1.2 The historical roots of schooling in Nunavut and models of minority school failure 10 1.3 The differential treatment model 13 1.4 The genetic deficit model 14 1.5 The cultural deficit model 14 1.6 Early Canadian studies critiquing inappropriate schooling 15 1.7 Cultural difference theory 19 1.8 Cultural difference studies with Inuit 22 1.9 Learning, tradition and change, and small steps toward Inuit culture 25 1.10 Structural theories 27 1.11 Resistance theory 29 1.12 Quick recap 30 1.13 Power/lack of power & rhetoric 31 1.14 The need for Inuit control 35 1.15 Negotiating schooling 37 1.16 The need for community voice and the current study 39 1.17 Recent consultations in Nunavut 40 1.18 Significance of the study 43 1.19 Summary 44 2. Methodology 46 2.1 The need to situate myself 46 2.2 Respectful research and ‘gaining access’ 47 2.3 A postmodern lens 52 Inuit visions for schooling iii 2.4 A critical stance 52 2.5 Purpose of the study – Inuit thoughts on Inuit education 53 2.6 Research questions 53 2.7 An ethnographically informed case study 54 2.8 Community and school profile 55 2.9 Data collection 58 2.9. 1 Interviews 58 2.9. 2 Observation & participant observation 63 2.9. 3 Document review 64 2.9. 4 Participant selection 64 2.9. 5 Participants 65 2.10 Data analysis 67 2.11 Trustworthiness 69 2.12 Limitations 73 2.13 Ethical considerations 74 3. Inuit culture, language, elders, and higher academic standards 77 3.1 Inuit culture 78 3.1.1 Reasons for wanting more Inuit culture in the schools 82 3.1.2 Desired elements of Inuit culture 86 3.1.3 How much Inuit culture? 90 3.1.4 Further thoughts 94 3.2 Inuktitut (& English) 99 3.2.1 Reasons for wanting more/stronger Inuktitut 101 3.2.2 Support for English 105 3.2.3 Further thoughts 111 3.3 Elders 115 3.3.1 Further thoughts 120 3.4 Discussion: Inuit culture, language, and elders 121 3.5 The desire for academic excellence 125 3.5. 1 Further thoughts 129 4. Factors influencing the academic success of students in Tuktulik 131 4.1 Parental and community support for the schools and students 131 4.1.1 Good and bad school experiences 132 4.1.2 Stated support for the schools 137 4.1.3 Desired changes to the schools 139 Inuit visions for schooling iv 4.1.3a Discipline issues 139 4.1.3b Communication between school and parents 142 4.1.3c Other desired changes 145 4.1.4 Support and the purposes of schooling 149 4.1.4a Preparation for wage employment 149 4.1.4b Schooling to strengthen and preserve Inuit culture and language 152 4.1.5 Expressed support of student learning 154 4.1.5a The desire for more parental support 160 4.1.6 Parental & community support for schooling: Further discussion 164 4.2 (In)congruence between home and school 166 4.2.1 Some diverse areas of incongruence 167 4.2.2 Incongruence in learning style 169 4.3 Prejudice, colonialism and disempowerment 181 4.3.1 Past signs of colonialism 183 4.3.2 Qallunaat control 185 4.3.3 Qallunaat privilege 187 4.3.4 Prejudice and assumptions 188 4.3.5 Someday Inuit will live and work like Qallunaat 192 4.3. 6 Disempowerment 199 4.3. 7 Summary 202 4.4 Dysfunctional corollories of colonialism 202 4.4.1 Drugs and alcohol 204 4.4.2 Gambling 208 4.4.3 Violence and abuse 208 4.4.4 Problems in the home 211 4.4.5 Other obstacles 214 4.4.6 Summary 215 4.5 The connection between schooling and work 216 4.5. 1 Perceptions of the connection between school and work 217 4.5. 2 Few people with postsecondary schooling 222 4.5. 3 Going south 224 4.5. 4 Summary 228 4.6 Further discussion: The colonial thread 230 Inuit visions for schooling v 5. Eurocentric Barriers to Change 236 6. Ending Eurocentrism 250 6.1 Qallunaat teachers moving away from Eurocentrism 250 6.2 Moving schools away from Eurocentrism 252 6.3 School system moves away from Eurocentrism 255 6.4 Canadians moving away from Eurocentrism 259