Having an opportunity to work in Canada鈥檚 North has led to an appreciation and love for its culture and people for a teacher formerly from Nova Scotia.

Chelsea Landry said she has enjoyed working in three different Nunavut communities since arriving more than a decade ago.

Now living in Rankin Inlet, Landry said she previously taught in Iglulik and Sanirajak.

鈥淚鈥檝e been able to learn about the land and culture, not only in this region, but other regions of Nunavut as well,鈥� she said.

Currently at Simon Alaittuq School which has approximately 135 Grade 5 and 6 students, Landry said she was filling in as the Grade 5 teacher up until December, at which time she moved over to the role of learning coach.

鈥淚 think a really neat aspect of teaching in a small community is getting to teach families, so getting to teach brothers and sisters of past students.

鈥淲e see family members come and go through our school, and it creates a really tight-knit bond within our school community and our community of Rankin Inlet between students and parents and staff and families,鈥� Landry said.

To keep students interested in their studies, Landry said they participate in numerous cultural traditions and hands-on activities, such as games.

鈥淚t's a really good team-building activity. It builds relationships and school culture, and it really connects us,鈥� she said.

One highlight of their program is bringing the students berry-picking in the fall and ice fishing in the springtime, she said.

鈥淚t's a really fun time for us.鈥�

Traditional knowledge-sharing

Landry said three Elders work at the school 鈥� one primarily dedicated to their Inuktitut language lessons, and two who teach sewing in the afternoons.

鈥淪o this year, specifically when I was teaching in my Grade 5 classroom, we learned how to make sealskin ulu key chains, which many of my students brought home as Christmas presents, and they also gave them to the Elders here at school.

鈥淎nd... a Grade 5 teacher and myself are going to help facilitate the students making traditional wall hangings.鈥�

Over the past year, Landry said the students enjoyed hosting an Elders Tea and a cultural swap that included a feast of traditional food, Inuit games, storytelling by Elders and string games.

鈥淪o, it was a really fun day for staff and students, and everyone who was here learning,鈥� she said.

By embedding the Inuit cultural principles into the culture of the school, learning takes place, she explained.

During the Elders Tea, she said each class had the opportunity to go to the gym and serve the Elders and help with the games.

鈥淭hese opportunities allow our students to show respect to the Elders and also learn from them.

鈥淪o spending time with the Elders is important so they can learn from Nunavut鈥檚 knowledge-keepers and have that traditional knowledge passed down to the younger generation.鈥�

Now that Landry has assumed the role of learning coach at the school, she said she will miss the daily interaction with her students, but looks forward to helping the teachers.

鈥淚'm really looking forward to working with the teachers in their classrooms to address our students鈥� needs and hopefully help our students succeed.鈥�

Landry said a highlight thus far in her teaching career has been taking part in the Certificate of Educational Leadership in Nunavut program.

鈥淚 began these courses when I was working in Iglulik and as a very new teacher. These courses were an awesome learning experience because I was able to transfer educational theory into this specific context of Nunavut and our unique learning needs here,鈥� she said of the courses that enhanced supportive working relationships with her mentors and colleagues.

And because of that opportunity, she continued her studies to complete two master of education programs.

鈥淭hese are opportunities that keep me up-to-date on current, evidence-based practices, that I can transfer to my classroom in the school, and it's really just fostered a love of learning.鈥�

On a personal note, Landry said she now has a fiance and step-children in Rankin Inlet and has happily settled in to the community.

鈥淢y family in Nova Scotia keeps saying, 鈥楢re you going to come home? When are you going to come home?鈥� but now this is my home.鈥�

For more stories and a list of scholarships for NWT and Nunavut students, see Degrees of Success here.