Inuvialuit Carver Priscilla Boulay shares traditional knowledge with students creating alongside

Connected North Impact Series by Jennifer Corriero

Over the past year, Priscilla Boulay from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, a community in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, has delivered over 200 Connected North sessions with classrooms where students learn to make their own soapstone carving.

Her session speaks about how she grew up in a family of carvers and was handed her first piece of soapstone at the age of 3. As a third generation carver, she speaks about the importance of passing on her traditional knowledge and culture to her own children as well as to children who are part of her Connected North sessions.

“The whole experience with Inuit carving, I feel it is important for them.”

Priscilla describes the delight she feels when students present their finished carvings at the end of a Connected North session. “It’s just wonderful to have this experience and do it remotely…I am full of joy and it brings peace knowing that I am making a difference.”

In our teacher survey, we received countless examples of how students were attentive and engaged throughout the learning process and were proud to bring their finished work home for family members. One teacher explains:

“A student’s mom praised the soapstone carving session and loved that it was a personal hand-made artwork and brought cultural connection especially living in Inuvik, NWT. She couldn’t believe that her daughter carved a polar bear!”

Having supplies available for students to experience hands-on learning alongside content providers is made possible with the generous support of donors who contribute to the costs of materials, such as soapstone kits.

Thank you to our ecosystem of partners who contribute the memories that will last a lifetime. Another teacher describes the impact in their classroom:

“students have asked many more questions and gotten very excited about soapstone art. It has encouraged some students to pursue art more in and outside of the classroom as well as given the students the opportunity to try types of art (soapstone) they wouldn’t have ever had the opportunity to try.”

“Their carving will always represent a story, whether it’s just learning in a class or learning with their friends.” - Priscilla Boulay