Students on Ice Blog

The cover of today’s Globe and Mail features an inspirational story written by Bill Curry of youth activism in the community of Kugluktuk, Nunavut. Students on Ice 2007 Arctic Expedition participant Danielle Meyok and education team member Mary Simon were interviewed for the article.

Danielle Meyok, SOI 2007 Arctic Expedition participant

‘Proud’ Inuit youth hail prohibition plebiscite
Community backs restrictions on alcohol

Bill Curry

From Wednesday’s Globe and Mail

October 24, 2007

The youth of Kugluktuk learned yesterday they had won a determined campaign to curb the rampant alcohol abuse of their parents and relatives in their remote Arctic village.

Adults in the Inuit community 600 kilometres north of Yellowknife on Monday voted 66 per cent in favour of a local plebiscite to restrict the use of alcohol.

The results, announced yesterday, will empower a committee to ban abusive individuals from obtaining alcohol.

“I feel so proud. All of our prayers have been answered,” 14-year-old Danielle Meyok said in an interview.

Danielle was one of about 200 Kugluktuk youth who were inspired to take action after a temporary alcohol ban this summer changed their lives. Local police had imposed the ban to ease their caseload while they repaired their main office.

In emotional interviews that aired this week on CBC’s The National, Kugluktuk’s youth spoke of a summer where their abusive, alcoholic parents suddenly transformed. One girl spoke fondly of a family camping trip.

But for the children in the town of 1,400, the few glorious weeks proved fleeting, as the dark reality of their lives came crashing back when the ban lifted. Drunks returned to the streets. Families grieved new suicides.

The youth decided to fight back, first with placards and an “enough is enough” march through town.

Then they put on a play, showing their parents in graphic detail how their drinking affects children.

Although far from a full ban on booze, the same restrictions approved this week had been rejected by adults in a 2003 vote.

“I give those kids a lot of credit for trying to at least confront the issue of alcohol,” said Mary Simon, the president of Canada’s national Inuit organization, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

“It’s kind of ironic that it’s the kids that are telling the adults [what to do]. It makes me very sad.”

Ms. Simon launched a cross-Canada speaking tour in Ottawa yesterday, calling for federal Arctic sovereignty measures to include the Inuit and address the social ills that lead to alarmingly high suicide rates.

“[The Kugluktuk campaign] should be a strong message to other aboriginal kids that you can actually take back some control, providing the adults are willing to listen, and it looks like at least some of them were willing to listen in this instance,” Ms. Simon said. “What they do with it will be the next part.”

Mary Simon,
President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
and Students on Ice Educator

Now in its seventh year, Canadian Geographic’s Polar Bound Contest sends deserving secondary school students to the Arctic or Antarctic on once-in-a-lifetime educational expeditions.

CURRENT CONTEST: Antarctic 2007

Imagine setting foot on the bottom of the world, standing among thousands of penguins and seabirds, or looking directly into the eyes of a killer whale. This December, you could travel to the planet’s frozen frontier to explore the beauty and wonder of Antarctica. Scientists consider this extraordinary excursion to be the greatest classroom on earth!

Canadian Geographic and Students on Ice will be sending one deserving high school student to join a team of students, scientists and teachers in the Antarctic from December 25, 2007 to January 8, 2008, for a journey filled with discovery and adventure. That student could be you!

ENTER NOW for your chance to WIN!

CONTEST QUESTION:

International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2009 provides an incredible window for us to better understand Earth’s polar regions. Despite its rich history as a polar nation, Canada’s involvement in the southern polar region remains minimal. For example, Canada has yet to become a full member of the Antarctic Treaty System which protects Antarctica. Why should Canada be more interested and engaged in the Antarctic? Respond by submitting an essay (500 words or less), journal, pictorial, poem, film, or other creative submission.

Entries must be postmarked on or before October 22, 2007 to the Polar Bound Contest, c/o Canadian Geographic, 39 McArthur Avenue, Ottawa ON K1L 8L7.

Canadian Geographic website: http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/polarbound/

ELIGIBILITY: Students between the ages of 14 and 18 as of December 24, 2007.

DEADLINE: Entries must be hand delivered or postmarked by October 22, 2007.