From Kangirsuk, QC to Kitchener, Ont.: Elementary school opens its doors to students from remote Inuit village

CTV’s Spencer Turcotte gets a peek into a real-world lesson in understanding thanks to an unique exchange opportunity.

A Catholic elementary school in Kitchener, Ont. opened its doors to a group of students from Kangirsuk, a remote Inuit village in northern Quebec, in late November.

“We don’t have trees up here,” explained Donatello Louka, a Grade 6 student from Sautjuit School in the Arctic tundra of Quebec.

Their eyes were practically popping out of their heads when they went to an OHL game for the Kitchener Rangers.

“They were so happy because, well, they haven’t been to anything like that,” said Ava Chandavong, Grade 7 student at St. Daniel Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener.

So, what sparked this cross-country and cross-cultural visit?

It all started with Joseph-Mina Louka teaching English to his Kangirsuk students, whose first language is Inuktitut.

He would set up regular Zoom calls between his students in the north and the students of one of his former teachers at St. Daniel.

“I firmly believe that we all have that one educator that really kind of changed our lives or touched us in a way. For me, that was Carlos Roque,” Louka explained.

Roque taught Louka nearly 20 years ago.

As the Zoom calls between the students progressed, their bond grew, as did their curiosity.

So, with the help of funding grants, the students from Kangirsuk traveled to Kitchener.

“Most students that actually attended the trip have never left their village,” Louka said.

Kangirsuk has roughly 550 residents, so many of the things the students experienced in southern Ontario surprised them.

“I’d say fresh fruits. We don’t really get to have much fresh produce up here,” Anne-Grace Annahatak, a Grade 10 student from Sautjuit School, said.

Roque also noted the kids had never seen squirrels before.

The Quebec students, meantime, had their own surprises for their Kitchener friends.

“One of the things that we got to try was beluga whale,” Roque said.

Their clothing, which was made from animals, was also a learning experience.

In April, the Kitchener students will get their own immersive experience when the roles reverse, and they travel to Kangirsuk.

“I’m a bit unsure, there are polar bears and stuff there,” Chandavong said, both nervous and excited for the trip.

The students are guaranteed a great learning experience.

“If you don’t want to take the bus, you can always drive your skidoo or ATV to school,” said Donatello, who is also Louka’s son. “We also have a culture class. The girls learn how to sew; the boys learn how to hunt.”

The small community of Kangirsuk has also planned ahead in terms of the food supply, given they’ll have an extra 30 mouths or so to feed.

The teachers at Sautjuit School said the cultural exchange, filled with friendship and exploration, has led to better student attendance – something all schools in the north struggle with.

While both communities may seem like they couldn’t be farther apart, they are closer in other ways.

“It is easier to build upon the similarities between two communities rather than dwell on the differences,” Louka explained.