Voices From Here

Jessie Kangok and Janet Evic talk about how the Inuit community in Ottawa is growing. Many Inuit are moving to cities in the South such as Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Montreal. What are the causes and consequences of this migration? Have students work in small groups to create a list of reasons why people might want or need to migrate from their home and live elsewhere (“push factors”) and a list of reasons why people might choose to migrate to urban centres (“pull factors”). After watching Jessie and Janet’s interview, students should read The Canadian Encyclopedia article Urban Migration of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and write down push and pull factors in the Southern Migration Worksheet . Why are people leaving communities in the North (push factors), and why are people drawn to urban communities (pull factors)? Have students write a blog post about urban migration: What kinds of difficulties do Inuit face as a result of this migration? What is happening to communities in the North? How has language been affected? Have students research an Inuit musical group or Inuk musician. Ask them to share a favourite song or a word they may have learned through their research, and tell their peers about the topics and issues covered in the band or artist’s music. Alternatively, students can research Indigenous- language radio programs, or the importance of radio in Northern communities. PART III: SOUTHERN MIGRATION — CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE EXTENSION ACTIVITY: THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING TOP: INUIT WOMAN PREPARING FOOD (LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA/1976-086 NPC/1949). BOTTOM: INUIT WOMEN WEARING BEADED AND FUR AMAUTIIT, CA. 1903-4 (LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA/1943-037 NPC). IGLOOLIK ILLUSTRATION BY NATASHA DONOVAN. STILL FROM JESSIE KANGOK AND JANET EVIC VIDEO (HISTORICA CANADA). 19