Review by Choice Review
The book tells the story of educational change among the Inuit people of Nunavik, situated in northern Canada between Hudson Bay and the Labrador Sea. Early chapters describe Nunavik and its people, traditional Inuit education, and the influence of settler societies through Western education systems and land-claim agreements. Vick-Westgate then details early incarnations of the first Inuit-controlled school board in Canada, the evaluation of their fledgling education system, and the reformulation of their education policies. At the heart of these chapters are the voices of Inuit elders, community leaders, and educators who are heard in lengthy yet relevant passages from transcribed community consultations, discussion papers from the Nunavik Education Task Force, and other primary sources. There are a number of lessons here regarding the dynamics of community development within an isolated indigenous population, the interplay between indigenous peoples and mainstream governments, and the process of revitalization of indigenous communities through education. This is an effective study of the complexities involved in the re-creation of an indigenous education system that must balance cultural traditions and practices with the dictates of a contemporary nation-state. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. All levels and collections. G. Bruyere Lakehead University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
