Nunavut Sivuniksavut Jungle...

Nunavut Sivuniksavut

368 Dalhousie St. Ottawa, ON K1N 7G3 Tel: (613) 244-4937 Fax: (613) 244-0058e-mail: [email protected] www.nstraining.ca

A report on the cross-cultural visitto Costa Rica by students of the

Nunavut SivuniksavutTraining Program

Ottawa

August 2002

Jungle Journey

1

BACKGROUND

"The tourwas a greatsuccess fromthe point ofview of boththe studentsand theirhosts."

The trip ...

Fifteen students in the Nunavut Sivuniksavut(NS) program undertook a two-weekcross-cultural visit to Costa Rica in early May,

2001. The purpose of the trip was to share informa-tion about Inuit culture and Nunavut with the CostaRican people in general, and with indigenous peoplesin particular. It was also to learn about Costa Ricanand indigenous history and culture in return.

The tour was a great success from the point of viewof both the NS students and their hosts. In their two-week stay, the NS students achieved their goal ofraising awareness and understanding about Nunavut,and of learning about indigenous peoples in this Central Americancountry.

The students ...

Teresa Barnabas, Arctic Bay Babah Kalluk, Resolute BayAnnie Joannie, Iqaluit June Shappa, Arctic BayAndrea Carter, Gjoa Haven Sarah Dunford, IqaluitUtu Maurice, Iqaluit Jimmy Akpik, KimmirutJeff Tulugak, Rankin Inlet Tina Akpalialuk, PangnirtungNajuk Kusugak, Rankin Inlet Norman Kilabuk, PangnirtungAshley Dean, Rankin Inlet Robin Anawak, Rankin InletSheena Qaunaq, Arctic Bay

The program ...

Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) is a unique eight-month college programbased in Ottawa. It provides Inuit youth from Nunavut with a transitionyear experience between high school and the job market and/or furtherpost-secondary education. Students study Inuit history, land claims andother issues essential to their future careers in Nunavut, while learningto live successfully on their own. The program was founded in 1985 andwas incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1999. Its courses areaccredited by Algonquin College in Ottawa.

2

OUTLINE

The following pagesdescribe where we went,

what we did, andwho we met in

Costa Rica

An appendix includesa list of sponsors

"The experience was awesome!"

— Teresa Barnabas, Arctic Bay

3

Day 1 - Tuesday, April 30

San José

Getting orientedDespite the long trip, everyone was up early on our first full day inCosta Rica, eager to soak up the sights and the sounds of the capitalcity. We spent the morning strolling around the city near our hostel.There was certainly lots that was new!

Spanish architecture was evident in

buildings such as this church

Our first two nightsin Costa Rica were

spent at theBuccaneer's

Hostel

" Great city to be in for couple of days, personally, it’s too busy for me!People’s merchandise all over the place! The night life is great! Themusic is alive & exciting! And the food! WHOA! GREAT! It’s wonderfuleverywhere here!" – Sarah Dunford, Iqaluit

"It’s so fast pace and so vibrant, and very, very Latin American! San Joseis also very polluted, with car horns as well as car exhaust."

– June Shappa, Arctic Bay

4

Day 1 - Tuesday, April 30

San José

Visit to the Canadian EmbassyIn the afternoon of our first day, we paid a visit to Canada's embassy,where we were received by the Ambassador, Louise Léger.

Embassy officials gave us a briefing on Costa Rica, and on the differentthings that an embassy does. Following this, we performed some ayayasongs, drum dancing and throat singing, and demonstrated our traditionalclothing and our games. The audience included embassy staff, officialsfrom the Costa Rica Tourism Promotion office, and the media.

Before leaving, we presentedthe Ambassador with gifts,including a soapstone carving,an NS t-shirt, and some printedinformation about Nunavut fortheir library.

" Very nice people. Willing to help lots." – Norman Kilabuk, Pangnirtung

" Very helpful, gave good tips on what to do & what not to do. Open to Canadians 24/7" – Annie Joannie, Iqaluit

" Very welcoming & warm. Good questions asked by some employees, interesting mission at the embassy." — Robin Anawak

Ambassador Louise Léger withher new NS t-shirt!

June Shappa (left) and Ashley Dean throat

singing for embassy officials and guests

Our visit began with abriefing by embassy

officials

5

Day 2 - Wednesday, May 1

Travelling to Talamanca

This was our first chance to see Costa Rica outside of its major city. Wetravelled over high, twisty mountain roads on our way to the Caribbeancoast.

The mountains were lush withvegetation, and the scenerywas spectacular. We stoppedperiodically to take in theviews (and to fix flat tires onthe bus!)

" I never seen so much beautiful scenery in my life. Everything wasgreen, which was very different from the north"

- Babah Kalluk, Resolute Bay

" They are blessed with such a beautiful country, high mountains - AWESOME!" - June Shappa, Arctic Bay

Stopping in themountains to enjoysome spectacularviews

Most of our two weeks werespent travelling by bus

Soccer kept us busy any timethe bus needed repairs

6


Puerto Viejo

The Caribbean!The climate in the Talamanca area was very hot and muggy - wecouldn't wait to reach the ocean to cool off! When we did, it didn't takeus long to dive in. The rest of the day and evening were spent either by,or in, the water.

"It’s like swimming in soup! I have never felt such warm water in mylife! Puerto Vierjo is an interesting beach town!

-Sarah Dunford, Iqaluit

"Puerto Viejo and the ocean were very, very beautiful. I love it! It’svery relaxing. The water is great! AWESOME PLACE!"

- Andrea Carter, Gjoa Haven

Sarah Dunford (l) and Teresa Barnabas enjoyingtheir first experience of the Caribean

Jimmy Akpik showing how he felt

about reaching the coast!

The beach in the coastal community of Puerto Viejo

The ocean was the best way to escape the tropical heat!

7

Day 3 - Thursday, May 2

Shiroles

Bribri Educative FarmToday, we travelled inland tomeet the Bribri, one of eightindigenous peoples in CostaRica. We stayed two nights attheir educational farm near thetown of Shiroles, deep in thejungle. The purpose of the farmis to ensure that Bribri cultureand traditional knowledge arepreserved and supported.

"The children were enraptured by our performances and they seemedinterested in all of our Inuit Games." - Robin Anawak, Rankin Inlet

"I really enjoyed visiting the classrooms and seeing what they do eachday at school. It’s so interesting how the building is designed! Youcan tell for sure just by looking at the school, that these kids live in ahot place!" - Ashley Dean, Rankin Inlet

The welcoming sign at the educational farm

We were welcomed by school girls whosang songs to us in three different lan-

guages: Spanish, Bribri, and Cabecares

Inuit games were always a big hit withaudiences, especially kids

We performed for them in return, includeddrumming, singing, throat singing and games

8

Day 4 - Friday, May 3

Amubri

Visit to local schoolIn the morning, we travelled bydugout canoe and then by busalong jungle roads to a villagecalled Amubri, where we visitedthe Colegio de Amubri, a localhigh school. It was raining, butwe performed outside for thestudents anyway. They alsoperformed songs for us. Beforeleaving, we showed them slidesof Nunavut, and got them to trysome Inuit games.

"Too bad about the rain. It was OK though, it was interesting to seeall the students at their school, and them participating in the InuitGames! Beautiful people here!" - Sarah Dunford, Iqaluit

"Weird performing in the rain. But very interesting knowing thesekids have never seen snow. I’m glad that we shared our photos withthem." - Annie Joannie, Iqaluit

Our ferry was a dugout canoe

Najuk Kusugak doing the arm pull with the

school principal, René Rocha Cabraca

Once again, the students loved thegames, especially seeing their

principal doing them

It was our first (and only) performance in the rain!

9


Rancho Cosmico

Visiting a shamanIn the afternoon, we travelled by busalong narrow jungle roads to visit ashaman, who people still consult whenthey are sick. He gave a presentationinside his traditional house on thedifferent plants that were used in hishealing practices. He said he had re-ceived his knowledge from the gods.

"I had a great time there. It was interesting to watch the shaman do ashort ritual. I was a little nervous to meet him since the elders backhome don’t like talking about them." - Sheena Qaunaq, Arctic Bay

"I felt his presence, he seemed very powerful just how he talked andcarried himself." - Babah Kalluk, Resolute Bay

June Shappa (left) and Ashley Deando throat singing for the shaman

We visited the shaman in histraditional house

The shaman, Lizandro Diaz

Babah Kalluk (left) presenting a wallhanging to our host

The shaman's ranch was deepin the jungle

10


Rancho Cosmico

Meeting a shaman (cont'd)While visiting the shaman, we gotthe chance to try out traditonalbows and arrows

... and gave us all a chance to try.Here Utu Maurice and NormanKilabuk line up their shots

"It was awesome seeing him and learning of their beliefs and sharingour culture with him." - Annie Joannie, Iqaluit

They demonstrated their bows ...

Annie Joannie demonstrated what it'slike to pack a baby in an amauti

Travelling in Costa Rica tookmany forms, including this

dugout canoe which ferriedpeople across a large river

This kind of open-air shelter is known as a "ranch"

11

Day 6 - Sunday, May 5

Return to San JoséEscaping the floodsThe heavy rains started on our lastday on the Caribbean coast, andcontinued into the next day. Wepacked up in the wet, and drovethrough terrible conditions, withwater levels rising onboth sides ofthe road. It turned out to the beworst downpour in over 30 years inthat region. Only hours after weleft, major bridges were washedaway when the waters came downfrom the mountain regions.

“Wow!! all the heavy rain in Talamanca made me a little nervous totravel, especially seeing the roads flooding and the mudslides. I wasworried about the people who’s houses were being flooded from allthe rain.” – Ashley Dean, Rankin Inlet

Loading the bus in the pouring rain

Norman Kilabuk gave up all attempts to stay

dry and took his morning shower in the rain

The roads were flooding over as we left the Talamanca region

Mudslides blocked roads out of theregion, costing us a day in our schedule

12

Day 7 - Monday, May 6

Buenos Aires

ARIDIKESAfter travelling across the moun-tains and through San José again,we arrived at Buenos Aires in thesouthwestern part of Costa Rica.We were hosted by ARIDIKES,an association of indigenouscommunities that promotes com-munity and economic develop-ment. ARIDIKES' work is sup-ported by the Canadian Interna-tional Development Agency(CIDA). We stayed at ARIKIES'headquarters and training centrefor two nights.

"The Aradikes Lodge was beautiful. I loved it, it was in a nice quietarea, and the staff, like everywhere else we went, treated us ex-tremely well. Not to mention the food and coffee, DELICIOUS! Wegirls totally lucked out as well, getting the air conditioned room!"

— Sarah Dunford, Iqaluit

The ARIDIKES compound. Like manybuildings in Costa Rica, it had fencesand barbed wire around it forsecurity purposes.

Canada's support forARIDIKES is acknowledged

at their centre

13

Day 8 - Tuesday, May 7

Buenos Aires

Visiting an eco-farmIn the morning, we were taken on a rugged drive then a long hike to ahilltop area owned by indigenous peoples. The area is being returned toits natural state, after it had been de-forested and farmed. Our guidesshowed us many plants that grownaturally in the region that are used asmedicines. The hike ended at the footof a giant tree, the only original treefrom the area still standing. We weretold we were the first outsiders theyhad ever brought into this place, sowe felt very honoured.

"The trip up the rugged hills to theeco-farm was the terrifying, butexciting! A few girls and I were luckyto hitch a ride in the 4x4 in front ofthe bus. I probably would have had aheart attack if I were on the bus.Rodrigo did an amazing job drivingthat bus though!" — Sarah Dunford

At the foot of the giant tree

The drive to the hilltop was so rugged itcould only be done with a 4WD

Hiking through the forest

There were many plants along the way thathad medicinal benefits

14


BorucaBoruca schoolFollowing a traditional lunch at thehome of one of the ARIDIKES leaders,we drove to the indigenous communityof Boruca. We visited the local schoolwhere we showed our slides aboutNunavut, and watched a play beingperformed by the children. Followingthis, we put on a show for the wholeschool down on the soccer field. It was agreat show, and the audience responsewas fantastic. Afterwards we signedautographs.

With the Boruca school kids

Our presentation was for the wholeschool

The kids loved it - especially seeing their

teachers trying Inuit games!

15


Boruca

Women's craft shopBefore leaving Boruca, we stopped at acraft shop run by local women. We sawwonderful articles of clothing andbedding, made from cotton that hadbeen spun and dyed by the women.There were also beautiful masks carvedout of balsa wood and painted indramatic colours.

Sarah Dunford (left) and Andrea Carterlooking at paintings

A sample of the beautiful masks sold at the craft shop

The women's craft shop in Boruca

A sample of hand-painted linen

16


Rey Curré

Fighting the floodingWe drove over rugged mountainroads to the indigenous reserva-tion of Rey Curré. This commu-nity is in the path of a hydro-electric project that will floodtheir entire valley within the nextseven years.

We were met by communityleaders and given a presentationon their struggle to defend theirland and their lives. They arelooking for support from peoplein other countries.

"About 300 meters high, the dam will destroy one more valley too beautiful for comprehension, as well as thelivelihood of too many people. TOOFRUSTRATING!!" - June Shappa

"The river was great and just to think that the land will be filled withwater so that the government could make money is saddening. Thepeople continue to fight but with no one willing to listen there seemsto be no hope." - Najuk Kusugak, Rankin Inlet

The Térraba River valley, home of Brunkasindigenous people, is soon to be flooded for

hydro-electric development.

The community is very public in its

opposition to the dams.

Their leaders gave us a presentationon the hydro project that will floodtheir lands and communities by the

year 2010

We gave a presentation about Nunavut

17


Buenos Aires

ARIDIKES performanceOur stay in Buenos Aires ended withan evening performance for theleaders and staff at the ARIDIKEStraining centre. Gifts were ex-changed to express our appreciationfor their wonderful hospitality, andtheir well-organized agenda duringour visit.

AIRIDKES hosts receiving gifts from Sarah Dunford.

With ARIDIKES leaders and staff

One final performance for our hosts

18


Santa Anna

SOS SchoolAfter leaving Buenos Aires, wetravelled back to San José,where we visited an SOS Inter-national School. These schoolsthat have been set up in over100 countries to provide ahealthy living and educationalexperience for young peoplewho are orphans or who lack asatisfactory family life. Thisparticular campus had a couple of hundred students from countriesthroughout Central and South America.

The highlight of our overnight staywas an evening of cultural perform-ing on an outdoor stage. In additionto our own performance (which theyloved!), SOS students from differentCentral and South American coun-tries performed their own traditionaldances and songs. It was an awe-some evening!

" I really liked this place. The students gave a really good show."- Babah Kalluk

The school had beautiful facilities

SOS students shared their cultures

wtih us

19

Day 10 - Thursday, May 9

Travel to Monteverde

Monteverde and thecloud forestThe last few days of the trip werespent at a place calledMonteverde. It's a World Herit-age Site, known for its unique"cloud forest" - a tropical rainfor-est so high up in the mountainsthat it's always in the clouds.

The drive up to Monteverde tookhours along steep, switch-backroads, climbing 4500 ft. in ashort distance. The scenery wasfantastic! Pretty soon we toowere in the clouds.

Our hostel in Santa. Helena, near Monteverdo

The vegetation was lush even at4,500 ft above sea level

The roads afforded us great views.This was taken from the bus window

Pack animals are still used in the mountain areas

20


Santa HelenaSky TrekOn our final day, we had an incredibleexperience on the Sky Treck. This was aseries of cables strung through the treesat the very top of the rainforest, andbetween hill tops. Some of us werenervous at first, but by the end, we wereall exhilarated!

"Awesome! There were 11 cables andthey were all good. The tower one,WHOA! That was really high above allthe trees. We were in the clouds! Thesecond last one, I didn’t make it all theway because I’m so light and it waswindy. Final words, I recommend it!"

- Jimmy Akpik, Kimmirut

" OH MY GOD! That’s all I could think of, that was AWESOME! Atrip I’ll never forget. I almost cried at one point, when we weregoing through the highest cable, man was I ever scared!!! WOW!That was just too great, I’ll do it again with my son someday!"

- Andrea Carter, Gjoa Haven

Najuk Kusugak leading the wayalong the first tower bridge

Ashley Dean getting hooked up

Sarah Dunford flying through the trees

Disappearing into the clouds highabove a mountain valley

21

Day 12 - Saturday, May 11

San José

Last night in Costa RicaThe final day of our trip wasspent back in San José, doinglast minute shopping, restingup, enjoying the pool at ourhostel and having our finalmeal together.

The trip was ending withfeelings of great satisfactionfor us all, having experi-enced so much, shared somuch, and learned so much.

Our last meal in Costa Rica

Jeff Tulugak of Rankin relaxing in a hammock

Norman Kilabuk enjoying the pool

Relaxing by the hostel pool

22

APPENDIX 1

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FINANCIAL SUPPORTThe following organizations and businesses provided the financialsupport that made our trip possible. The trip would not have happenedwithout you!

Dept. of Indian Affairs & Northern Development IqaluitNunavut Sivuniksavut students OttawaInuit Tapiriit Kanatami OttawaNunavut Tunngavik Inc. IqaluitNunavut Wildlife Management Board IqaluitRoyal Canadian Legion Branch #168 IqaluitPan Arctic Inuit Logistics Ottawa

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORTThe following individuals and organizations played key roles in helpingus to prepare for, and carry out, our trip. The trip would not have beenso successful had it not been for their generous assistance.

Ann WardropJamie KneenRob MartelAluki RohasRoberta StoutLena Ajoy and the staff at the Costa Rican Embassy in OttawaDeborah Airey, Dept. of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, OttawaTed McKay and Ana Cecelia Dwyer at Canada's Embassy in San JoséGina Guillen, Head of the Tourist Promotion Office, Costa Rica,whotreated us like royalty,

Roderigo RamÌrez, our faithful driver who tookhis bus places we would never have dreamed,

and finally ...

Julio May Herrera , our indispensible interpreter,guide, companion and friend who has become anhonourary NS student for life!

23

Gra

duat

es o

f the

200

0-20

01 N

unav

ut S

ivun

iksa

vut p

rogr

am —

May

15,

200

2 (

Fro

nt r

ow L

—R

) S

heen

a Q

auna

q,Te

resa

Bar

naba

s, T

ina

Akp

alia

luk,

And

rea

Car

ter

; (

Mid

dle

row

) S

arah

Dun

ford

, Jun

e sh

appa

, Ash

ley

Dea

n; (

Bac

k ro

w)

Utu

Mau

rice,

Rob

in A

naw

ak, J

eff T

ulug

ak, J

imm

y A

kpik

, Nor

man

Kila

buk,

Bab

ah K

allu

k, N

ajuk

Kus

ugak

(In

sert

) A

nnie

Joa

nnie

Nunavut Sivuniksavut Jungle...

Documents

Transcript of Nunavut Sivuniksavut Jungle...