Digby people in Salluit

Yesterday I met the grandson of a chap my Dad went to school with in Digby! Dear ole Digby, the gift that keeps on giving.

David Chalmers is one of the Kativik maintenance men who travels the north keeping all the different machines of all the schools running. We talked and talked and talked about Digby, where he was raised too. Then this morning we met again and had even more to talk about as we both had checked with family members to see who each other was. He told me of a Ms. Halliday that is working in a village nearby and a Mr. Clements that is teaching in another village. I once met the former teacher of my niece Georgia ( Wolfville area) up here. We Nova Scotians can sniff out each other.

My students have been very busy all week making surprises for their Mums and Grandmothers for Mother's Day every free minute. It was a great carrot to have them get the academic work out of the way so they could get at the glitter glue. Our big project was a wonderful pin cushion. It really worked, and they really worked hard at it. I also put out a supply of ribbons and pretty papers for card making.

As a teacher I have to be extremely sensitive when talking about Mother's Day. They may not live with their mother at this point. I enourage them to do things for an aunt, their God mother, cousin.. any female that is part of their life. I make available lots of materials so they can make many cards so that all the bases are covered and no one feels left out. There is a wonderful Inuit name for the woman who is a good friend of the mother who cuts the cord when the child is born.. but I can't spelll it. That is a special relationship for the child their entire life.

As well we wanted to celebrate the Principal's birthday today. Annie was in the south on Kativik business on her birthday,so today we celebrated it a month late. The kids made beautiful posters and cards for her. Marie Andree organized the Prayer Circle as a celebration for Annie. She was very surprised and very emotional. During recess we had cake in the staffroom..( guess who made it).

Annie is not told often enough how much her staff respects her. She hears far to often about what is wrong but not what she does to make things better. The village is divided into family groups and some groups do not get along. All small towns, all over the world are like that but with our village being so isolated it is difficult to get away from . There is a huge amount of pressure on her at all times. Her staff can see how ugly it can get for her at times. She works so hard to encourage the teachers and the students. The students love and respect her. When she disciplines them they still reach out to her and want her arms wrapped around them. I have never seen her not hug a child after a problem.

So there is a lovely warm feeling in the school. We have celebrated the woman who mothers us all here in Sallulit and made things for the students' mothers. The school is a happy place today.