Archaeological sites in the neighbourhood
By Tommy Weetaluktuk
It is common in the Arctic to have archaeological sites in the neighbourhood of a school. They are good opportunities for educational purpose, especially because they are right on the surface. Despite this, most of the year, they are invisible, buried under the snow. In late spring, just before school is over, it is thus the right time to organise visits to the sites for the students.
On June 6th I took grade 4 students from the Innalik school of Inukjuak to visit a couple of archaeological sites near the town. The outing was to introduce the student to archaeology, the role it plays in better understanding about our past and preserving our heritage. The 14 students were around ten to eleven years old along with their teacher Mini Haney. What an enjoyment for them to have a class outside during that beautiful day!
The sites visited are more than 1000 years old, from Predorset (IcGm-38) and Dorset period (IcGm-36). Stone artefacts and tent rings are still visible on the surface. Among others, they learn why the sites are now far from the beach and on high elevation, although people had lived right beside the beach during that period. Also on the trip were Alana Morgan (teacher, Innalik school), Ivan Hitchcock (former teacher in Inukjuak, early 80s), Nancy Palliser (Avataq), Mary Pirti Kumarluk (Daniel Weetaluktuk Museum, Inukjuak), Alacie Q. Napartuk (Saputik Art and Cultural Centre, Puvirnituq) and Julie Anne Tremblay (museologist). This outing was part of the project «Passeport culture vivante», an initiative of the Museology Department, Avataq Cultural Institute.
(Tommy Weetaluktuk is an archaeologist working for Avataq at Inukjuak office)
