| Summary: | Degree: Master of Science Abstract: This study investigates how the meaning of education has changed for the Inuvialuit in Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, Canada, over a century. This is done by situating Inuvialuit educational experiences in the context of government policies, socioeconomic and cultural changes, and Inuvialuit self-determination. The study found that the meaning of education for the Inuvialuit has been and continues to be: acquiring the means to support a family. A change has occurred from learning “the Inuvialuk way” in the 1930s to “striving for the best of both worlds” in the 1970s to the dream of “becoming whatever I want” in the 2000s. Unfortunately, the dreams that youth have are often cut short. Among other things, the level of engagement in formal education by youth and their families is influenced by the family’s past experiences and perceptions of the education system. The study identifies family, community, school, and policy factors that increased student engagement.
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