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Breaking the ice between teachers and students

Land trip lets Grade 9s learn outside of the classroom

Simon Kullualik’s nose almost touches the water as he stares through the fishing hole, jigging his lure and waiting for the next Arctic char to glide past.

It’s the sort of unwavering attention that Grade 9 students usually reserve for important tasks — you know, like watching television and playing video games.

It’s certainly a big change from the classroom for Kullualik and 15 other Inuksuk High students, who spent last Friday travelling by snowmobile to Nungarut, or Bay of Two Rivers, about 20 miles southwest of Iqaluit.

“They’re so different. You don’t need to tell them to settle down,” says teacher James Rankin. “They can scream and shout as loud as they want, and jump on each other.”

But there isn’t much shouting going on by the fishing holes — that might scare the fish. Instead, students crouch on mats, stare into the clear green water, and share ideas about what might be the perfect bait. So far bits of peanut butter and jelly sandwich haven’t proven lucky.

“Bread? Use corn, I’ve got some,” says Susie Nowdlak-Alla, who grew up in an outpost camp outside Iqaluit and offers advice to the students.

That doesn’t help Sarah Ali, who’s found the fish have learned how to nibble corn off her hook without getting snagged.

“Obviously I’m not going to become a fisher,” she says.

But it still beats the classroom — especially during a week when they’ve had to write three mid-term exams.

“Anything’s better than school,” says Ricky Kolola-Worches, shortly after pulling up a fish. “It’s so boring.”

Maybe. But if fishing teaches these students anything, it’s the importance of patience. That’s something that guide William Alainga, 19, wants to pass along. And patience helps you do more than hook char — it helps you get through school.

Last year Alainga graduated from Inuksuk High School. Now he’s back, helping out in the school’s shop and during land trips.

“It’s good to keep the culture alive,” says another guide, William Amagoalik, who fished for as long as he can remember while growing up in Resolute Bay.

“The only way to learn is to have first-hand experience.”

The kids also get to see their teacher differently — in this case, staggering around the snow with a pair of wet pants.

“I was jigging,” Rankin says. “It’s a soup bowl over there.”

Meanwhile, rumours are circulating that teaching assistant Travis Brown bites the heads off fish.

“I don’t bite the heads off. I just bite them,” Travis explains, before plucking the eye off a young char and popping it in his mouth.

In later grades, students have a chance to hunt seals and go on overnight trips. Maybe they’ll learn a bit about navigation, then, too.

When asked, “Which way is Iqaluit?” these students point their fingers with complete certainty — in opposite directions.

By the afternoon’s end it’s time to pack up, and Kullualik’s face is still pressed against the water’s surface. Beside him is a pile of nine little fish, putting him ahead of his competition, Charles Hien, who’s caught eight.

“Big one, coming that way!” Kullualik says, as he’s told it’s time to head home.

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