"Gaining Towards the Future” is a professional development project, the purpose of which is to provide training for Inuit and non-Inuit Heritage Workers in Nunavut so that they may ensure, through their achievement of professional standards and practices, the adequate preservation and presentation of the cultural materials in their care for public access and enjoyment. The project involves the planning and delivery of a Training Program (known as The Institute) that will provide introductory museum/heritage training geared toward the needs of the Nunavut heritage community. All participants receive a “Basic Heritage Workers’ Certificate of Completion” as a non-credit program through the Nunavut Arctic College. In preparation for the Institute, a Train-the-Trainer session will be part of the project to ensure that trainers/instructors delivering the learning modules are adequately prepared to do so. A previously developed mentorship component will be re-designed, improved upon, and implemented anew to support heritage workers who were participants in the Institute in their communities.

The model for delivery of our Training Program is to divide the eight modules in half into intensive ‘Institutes’ (Institute #1 and Institute #2). We offer these in alternate years where Institute #1 is in a different Nunavut community each time it is offered and Institute #2 is in a different southern gateway city to Nunavut each time.
 

2010 Institute a Success!
Planning in Progress for the 2011 Session in Winnipeg

We successfully held our 2010 Institute in Pond Inlet from March 10-19th, 2010. We had 14 participants and 4 new Trainers from Nunavut facilitate sessions. Specials thanks to the Hamlet of Pond Inlet, the Pond Inlet Archives and the Nattinak Center for hosting us. Also a very gracious thank you to Canadian Heritage and the Government of Nunavut through the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for their financial support. We could never offer this wonderful training opportunity without their generous support.

We have applied for funding to hold our Institute (#2) in March 2011 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While waiting we have begun the planning process. This promises to be a really exciting 10 days learning while immersed in all the cultural materials and facilities that Winnipeg can offer. If you would like any information, please feel free to contact Ericka at any time ().
 

Train the Trainers Session, Iqaluit Sept. 29–Oct. 1, 2009

Five new Nunavut trainers came together to learn about adult learning, Inuit learning as well as a range of tools to use in becoming trainers. They also began working on the presentations for the sessions they will be delivering and piloted a portion to fellow students. Catherine Cole and Wendy Molnar facilitated this session with a wonderful guest presentation from Peesee Pitseolak-Stephens, the Dean of Nunavut Arctic College.
 

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