Eurocentric roadblocks to school change in Nunavut
Sixty years after its inception, schooling in the eastern Arctic remains predominantly based on Euro-Canadian values, curricula and pedagogy, and privileging English over Inuit languages. Many studies have linked this model of schooling to poor academic achievement and assault on Inuit culture, and...
| Published in: | Études/Inuit/Studies |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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Association Inuksiutiit Katimajiit Inc.
2009
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| Online Access: | http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/044960ar https://doi.org/10.7202/044960ar |
| Summary: | Sixty years after its inception, schooling in the eastern Arctic remains predominantly based on Euro-Canadian values, curricula and pedagogy, and privileging English over Inuit languages. Many studies have linked this model of schooling to poor academic achievement and assault on Inuit culture, and many Inuit have for decades indicated that they want schooling to reflect Inuit culture. In this article I argue that Eurocentrism continues to slow the pace of educational change in Nunavut, despite the supportive proclamations and good intentions of White teachers and bureaucrats. Based on fieldwork in one Nunavut community and on observations as a teacher and visitor in Arctic areas, I present examples of individual Eurocentrism, Eurocentrism embedded in the educational system, and pan-Canadian Eurocentrism that create roadblocks to school change in Nunavut. I also suggest some ways to challenge the roadblocks. As Inuit continue to press for schools based on Inuit priorities Euro-Canadians should act as allies. To this end, Euro-Canadians need to acknowledge and challenge Eurocentrism. Soixante ans après sa mise en place, la scolarisation de l’Arctique de l’Est conserve des valeurs, une pédagogie et un programme à prédominance euro-canadienne, qui privilégie l’anglais au détriment des langues inuit. De nombreuses études ont démontré que les faibles résultats scolaires tenaient à ce modèle d’enseignement, celui-ci constituant en outre une agression envers la culture inuit, tandis que de nombreux Inuit ont, durant des décennies, insisté pour que l’enseignement reflète leur culture. Dans cet article, j’avance que c’est l’eurocentrisme qui contribue à ralentir le changement scolaire au Nunavut, en dépit des déclarations de soutien et des bonnes intentions des enseignants et des fonctionnaires blancs. En me basant sur un travail de terrain effectué dans une communauté du Nunavut et sur mes observations en tant qu’enseignant et visiteur dans les régions arctiques, je présente des exemples d’eurocentrisme au niveau ... |
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