Classes at Inuit cultural school delayed

The start of classes at a new learning centre in Nunavut designed to teach young Inuit about their language and traditions has been delayed because of a lack of supplies and staff.

None of its students have been selected either.

The Piqqusilirivvik Inuit Cultural School in Clyde River, which opened in May, was supposed to be up and running by the second week of September but classes won't start for another month.

"Were expecting the sealift this week," said director Johnathan Palluq. "Most of our program materials will be arriving."

The Piqqusilirivvik centre will be the first of its kind based on traditional Inuit knowledge and all of its classes, which range from clothing making to land use programs, will be taught in Inuktitut by local elders who will act as instructors and counselors.

However, some of the facilitys 14 staff members havent been hired and organizers are still finalizing the curriculum.

"It takes a bit of time because this is a new program and the qualifications and the experience are new," Palluq said. "We're looking for people with traditional camp experience and also very strong language in Inuktitut and very knowledgeable in Inuit traditions."

The school will have 26 students one selected from each community in Nunavut and is open to Inuit over the age of 18.

Attendees will stay in dormitory-style rooms inside the school, which also has several open-concept classrooms, a wood shop and a sewing room.

Semesters will be about three to four months long, matching the length of the seasons, according to officials.

According to Statistics Canada figures, 64 per cent of Inuit in Canada said Inuktitut was their mother tongue in 2006, which is down from 68 per cent in 1996. Slightly fewer Inuit also reported speaking Inuktitut at home, according to the figures.