They’ve travelled a long way from home, but students from Clyde River, Nunavut, are already feeling a sense of community in Orillia.
Twenty-one students from Quluaq School in the small Inuit community on Baffin Island are taking part in a cultural exchange program at Twin Lakes Secondary School.
“Does Orillia have a college?” asked Andre Joanas, 17.
When he was told Orillia is home to a college and a university, the Quluaq School student said, “I could go to college here.”
“This place is beautiful. Nice people,” he said. “I’ve been stuck in my hometown for years.”
While Clyde River holds a special place in his heart, Joanas pointed out there are plenty of struggles he and his peers face, including the reality of the high rates of suicide and violence in Nunavut — something his teacher, Akayla Omabowale, noted happens in Orillia, too, but is more pronounced in a place like Clyde River, given its population of about 1,100.
"It’s a place where there’s good things and bad things,” Joanas said. “It’s kind of like a seesaw.”
The students arrived in Orillia on Monday and Tuesday. They have already been on a walking tour of the city.
On Wednesday, they headed to the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre in Longford Mills for a day of activities and team-building exercises with their cultural exchange counterparts from Orillia.
While some of the visiting students are looking forward to visiting various sites in Ontario, Nikita Hainnu, 14, is eager to learn.
“I’m hoping to expand my vocabulary and feel more comfortable speaking English,” she said in her native Inuktitut language, as translated by classmate Jocelyn Kautuk.
“Coming from a rural community, it’s nice to see new places and learn that there’s more out there,” said Kautuk, 16.
They have a busy schedule for their two-week visit. They’ll take a hike in the Copeland Forest, visit Niagara Falls and then head to Toronto to check out the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium.
They will also take part in a day of activities at Rama First Nation, before wrapping up their trip with a visit to various sites in Ottawa.
Omabowale is excited to see her students experience something new.
“For a lot of them, they have access to internet and cellphones, so they see the world through a screen, but they don’t have the context,” she said. “I really want them to experience it first-hand.”
When they head back to Nunavut, a group of 21 Twin Lakes students will be joining them. Matthew Gordon can hardly wait.
“I’ve always wanted to go up North and see the beautiful Arctic,” said the 17-year-old Twin Lakes student. “When the school said it was doing this exchange, I thought it was a great opportunity to learn about the culture up there.”
That’s why Avery Lee also jumped at the chance to take part.
“It’s important for everyone to learn about the different cultures in Canada,” said Lee, 15. “I’ve been to many parts of Canada, but I feel the territories get ignored a lot. They’re still a part of Canada.”
“Canada’s so big. There are so many different cultures,” added Meghan Rogers, 15. “I want to experience something new.”
Twin Lakes principal Julie Underhill will be travelling with her students to Clyde River. It will be her first time visiting Nunavut.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing it through my students’ eyes as well,” she said. “That helps me as an educator and leader to support their learning here.”
