April 15, 2008

by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean

We left on Sunday for the Far North, where we will meet with people from Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk in the Beaufort-Delta Region, which has an extremely diverse population comprised of Gwich’in, Inuvialuit, Anglophone and Francophone communities, as well as one Nigerian: Father Matthew. Everyone there has the same goal: to build solid ties and to implement sustainable initiatives together, so as to create a strong and prosperous community.

I sometimes reread certain messages left on the blogs or in the forums on life and realities in the North, and I see how frankly you talk about problems and challenges. Your comments contain some very interesting ideas, aspirations, findings and concerns.

In a forum on the Arctic and your solutions for the planet, I read this comment by larry.gemmel, dated February 17, 2008:

“The Arctic is in fact a very unique and important part of Canada and its ecosystem is particularly vulnerable to climate change, pollution, and other environmental effects. (…) We have a huge obligation to the Inuit,  to help and protect this heritage.”

And on February 8, 2008, JesseoftheNorth talked about the risks of acculturation:

 “The north is undergoing enormous transformations and we are already seeing the effects of the introduction of mass media and communication in the north already. One of the most visible impacts has been on Inuit cultural identity among the youth and on how Inuit perceive the outside world. After being almost completely isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years, the past two generations of Inuit have been thrust into the modern world. Most communities in Nunavut were only exposed to television in the 80’s and 90’s and now southern influence has seeped into almost every aspect of life in the north. This transformation has created a culture shock."

Your comments on the site are always a great source of inspiration and reflection to me, and I thank you for that.

This trip is the result of an invitation from Mary Simon, President of the ITK, to take part in the 2008 National Inuit Education Summit. This Summit is a concrete example of a community’s commitment to reduce school dropout rates and encourage the creation of a new generation of professionals in the region by focusing on training, skills and a combination of traditional and modern knowledge. Everyone is working very hard to give young people greater self-confidence, self-assurance, so they can dream big and make constructive life plans. During this trip, I will also learn about local achievements and projects in a conversation with young people and elders. I will make note of what they tell me so I can come back and share it with you.