Igloolik community tapestry on display at the Ataguttaaluk High School in June 2017. The RCYO spent time meeting with a variety of child and youth service providers.
“Raise Your Voice” Self-Advocacy Workshop participants in Coral Harbour
Nancy, one of our systemic investigators, recently came back from meeting young people and service providers in Naujaat. Here is what she had to say about her trip:
After three different attempts to get to Naujaat, I was the lucky RCYO staff member who managed to land in this beautiful community.
The Representative for Children and Youth, Sherry McNeil-Mulak along with the Advocacy Specialist, Andrew Nunez, visited the communities of Pangnirtung and Qikqiqtarjuaq from March 27- April 1, 2017. During the visits, Sherry and Andrew had an opportunity to meet with key community service providers such as hamlet employees, teachers, school principals, health and mental health care workers, social workers and RCMP officers.
Colby O’Donnell, youth advocacy specialist for the Representative for Children and Youth’s Office (RCYO), arrived in Arctic Bay in March 2017, where he had the opportunity to meet with many wonderful people, including some of the health care professionals that have been long standing community members for well over a decade. Their experience and knowledge of the community guided Colby’s interactions with the children and youth during his visit.
During the week of March 6-10, 2017, two of our Child and Youth Advocacy Specialists, David Korgak and Christa Kunuk from the Representative for Children and Youth’s Office (RCYO) visited the community of Pond Inlet. During their visit, David had the chance to meet with the students of the Ulaajuk Elementary School and Nasivvik High School to raise awareness about children and youth’s rights.
From May 5th to the 12th, Andrew Nunez and David Korgak, Child and Youth Advocacy Specialists, visited Baker Lake and Whale Cove. In that time, Andrew and David met with many members of each community.
In Baker Lake, they spent a lot of time in both schools discussing children’s rights with students all the way from the K-5 Rachel Arngnammaktiq Elementary School to the grade 6-12 Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School. They also met with government service providers including teachers, nurses, youth workers, and many more.
While visiting Grise Fiord in May 2017, Colby, a Child and Youth Advocacy Specialist, felt that he was in the midst of one big family. Community members and professionals all meshed together to provide supports for each other.
Colby was able to watch the RCMP team provide breakfast at the school for the students. He also had the privilege of taking part in a community feast and listening to one of the Elders share stories about his life.
Most importantly, Colby got to speak with children and youth in the community who shared their ideas and concerns with him.
During the week of February 6, 2017, one of our Child and Youth Advocacy Specialists, Christa Kunuk visited the community of Kimmirut, where she had the chance to connect with students from Kindergarten to grade 12 to raise awareness of their rights. This community visit was also a great opportunity to meet with a wide array of GN service providers including staff from the Department of Family Services, the Kimmirut Health Center as well as the Hamlet.
During the week of January 15 – 19, 2017, Nancy Pellerin, one of our senior systemic investigators visited the community of Sanikiluaq. During the visit Nancy had an opportunity to spend time with students and staff at Nuiyak Elementary School. She also met with some of our territory’s future teachers; students enrolled in the Nunavut Teachers Education Program as well as other students attending Nunavut Arctic College.