Integrating Gwich'in and Inuvialuit Perspectives in a Community School in the Northwest Territories: A Case Study

• Main Author: Wolki, Janna M
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarship@Western 2020
• Subjects: Indigenous Education; Aboriginal Education; Culturally Responsive Education; Northwest Territories; Gwich’in; Inuvialuit
• Online Access: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/7089; https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/context/etd/article/9623/viewcontent/auto_convert.pdf

This study explores how teachers, staff, and community members in one school in the Northwest Territories are integrating Inuvialuit and Gwich’in issues, perspectives, and languages into the school and curriculum. Through the Education Renewal Initiative (2013), the Government of the Northwest Territories identified Indigenous languages and culture-based education as a priority to improving education in the NWT, while recognizing that this is a challenging task for teachers coming into the NWT from southern communities. Utilizing a generic qualitative case study methodology, this study recognizes and celebrates the many successful cultural initiatives that are currently occurring within this one school, and identifies the challenges and barriers to the successful integration of culturally relevant learning opportunities from the perspectives of members of staff in the host school. The hope is that the findings from this study contribute to guiding professional development for school staff employed in this school and region.