Lessons in Legislation: Connected North Classroom Visit With the Nunavut Legislative Assembly

On November 30, 2023, Connected North classrooms were in for a special treat, with a behind-the-scenes tour of Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly chambers led by MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone and hosted by Becky Han. Han was born and raised in Arctic Bay, Nunavut but was streaming live from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Students got to see how the government works, practice public speaking by asking questions and get to know an elected representative. It was an exciting day for students to spend time with Inuit role models and learn about the jobs they have while exploring a new place that would have been a long, expensive journey to experience in person.

Kicking off the tour, Lightstone shared how he was elected as the youngest member of the Legislative Assembly in 2017. He’s since been re-elected and is no longer the youngest but he still knows how to have fun. This isn’t the kind of tour he normally gives… This one has prizes! Lightstone invites students to identify a very unique item to win a prize.

A student from Gjoa Haven correctly pointed out it is a narwhal tusk. Technically, it’s the Mace of Nunavut, made by five master carvers, featuring a diamond and a silver crown from Nunavut-based mines. The sculpture holding the mace was of a father, a child, a mother and an elder, symbolizing the tradition of families working together to survive and thrive and representing gender parity. The first prize was a Nunavut flag pin and there are more where that came from. But first… a surprise special guest joins the livestream!

Premier P.J. Akeeagok, who happened to be walking down the hall, joined the group briefly. He shared how he grew up in the small community of Grise Fiord hoping to become a water truck driver. Following his passion and pursuing his education, he now serves his community and all of Nunavut differently than he imagined all those years ago. He enjoys his challenging job, inspired to ensure youth have every opportunity for success.

“Keep up the great work at your schools. Make sure you finish high school because there’s much more schooling after that. Don’t be scared to leave your communities as well. I was very nervous, originally, but excited when I was 17 and I moved to Ottawa to pursue Nunavut Sivuniksavut. You have to trust and continue to grow as a person. If I could do it, you all could do it,” he encourages before leaving the students to continue their tour.

Moving into the chamber, Lightstone points out how many Inuit traditions are built into the building finishes, like real ivory walrus tusks and also silverware created by an Iqaluit-based jeweller. Students guess what the next item is: the coat of arms. Lightstone explains each component’s symbolism and goes on to detail the roles of MLAs and the premier, offering more chances to win prizes and learn about government.

The next lesson is on Nunavut’s unique governance structure: the consensus model, where there are no political parties and lots of respectful dialogue. He shows where the Premier, cabinet ministers and regular members sit and how they are chosen. Lightstone shows off traditional tools, the Speaker’s Chair, and the artwork in the Chamber, inviting them to come see it all in person if they ever come to town.

After the tour, students get to ask all their curious questions. Their confidence grows with each inquiry and they are excited to get answers from a real, live politician who is Nunavummiuq like them. They ask about Nunavut’s financial history and the causes of low voter turnout. To encourage these future voters, Lightstone encourages them to stay informed about what is happening in government and the news. “The more you know, the better you’ll be able to benefit in the long run,” he advises.

He talks about the benefits of youth voices in the legislative assembly and how young politicians can bring their priorities forward alongside their colleagues who are more likely to be in their fifties. Lightstone sees age and gender diversity as key to making sure everyone’s voices are heard and he encourages youth to pursue politics.

What’s been weighing on his heart lately has been climate change and the environment. He campaigned on those issues and also education, employment, housing and transparency. “We can no longer deny climate change is happening; we can see it happening around us here in every community in Nunavut. If we don’t act now to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, it will be our children and our grandchildren who will be paying the consequences,” he predicts.

The students want to know next what inspired him to become an MLA and he shares how it was his aunt Eva Aariak who got him thinking about politics. She was once premier and is now the Commissioner of Nunavut. Minister David Joanasie, who was elected at the age of 30, inspired him to decide to run in the next election. He talks about what his time as an MLA has been like — a rollercoaster with mostly ups, he smiles. Lightstone speaks warmly of his fellow MLAs who bring their unique contributions to government.

Keeping drugs out of schools is something students want to hear about next and Lightstone talked about legalization, regulation and ingredient safety, ways the government is trying to keep people safe around drugs. He urges youth with tips about drug dealers to report them to the RCMP’s tipline to help keep drugs out of schools and communities, empowering them with a concrete way to take action on an important safety matter.

In closing, as he expressed his gratitude to be able to host this special tour, thanking team members for their contributions, Lightstone spoke to the importance of Information Technology professionals. He encouraged students to consider a lucrative career in technology, wrapping up a special day with warmth and practical advice on a way to make money and impact in the future.

Live interactive field trips like this one allow students in Connected North classrooms to connect with experts and educational venues to complement classroom curriculum and expand horizons beyond the classroom walls. Premium sessions like these create memorable learning experiences and get students and teachers talking about what they’ve learned long after they’ve logged off, providing a jumping off point for more exploration and learning together.

Looking at the well-being model of the Connected North program, the tour of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly was a way to explore language, culture and identity, build relationships with staff and authority, create hope for the future, and build relationships with peers and students through shared experiences.

We are grateful to MLA Adam Lightstone, the government of Nunavut, our host Becky Han and the generous donors who contribute to our programming for their help in making this special event possible. We can’t wait to share more about what our Connected North classrooms are up to and how this program is making a difference, one session and one student at a time. Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.