INUA Behind the Scenes: Educational Programming with Kayla Bruce
Inuit Futures Ilinniaqtuk Kayla Bruce took on the role of Education Assistant for INUA at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, where she has been developing lessons and teaching tools for Qaumajuq that reflect Inuit knowledge and ideas.
Kayla is a recent graduate from the University of Winnipeg, receiving her Bachelor of Education this April 2021. Designing educational programming at this scale was a new experience for Kayla, as this was her first time creating a complex lesson plan outside of her University coursework. Kayla was thrilled to take on the role, and shared her enthusiasm at the idea of being involved with such an important new center. “It’s super exciting. I felt so honored to even be a part of the project in this way, especially as a new educator still in the process of getting my Bachelor of Education.”
Kayla Bruce visiting INUA at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Image courtesy of Kayla Bruce.
Kayla took inspiration from the artworks in the INUA exhibition for her educational curriculum. Her goal was to create personalized educational programming for youth, which follows the Inuit holistic model for lifelong education, while caring for cultural appreciation. “I made it so that it was all about Inuit art, but also personalized it as well so that the students can take inspiration from the art to make it their own versions.”
Kayla won’t be facilitating this programming herself, it will instead be disseminated to educators from around the world who are able to take it and use it in their own classrooms. “It can reach a wider variety of teachers and students, and they can do it themselves. That way it can reach more people.”
Kayla Bruce with Ruth Qaulluaryuk’s Four Seasons of the Tundra: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer (1991-1992). Image Courtesy of Kayla Bruce.
Ruth Qaulluaryuk’s Four Seasons of the Tundra: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer (1991-1992). Detail. Image courtesy of Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Kayla was living in Winnipeg while working with INUA, and had the opportunity to see the exhibition in person before it opened in May 2021. She says that seeing the works in person was crucial to the development of her curriculum.
One of the lessons Kayla developed references Ruth Qaulluaryuk’s Four Seasons of the Tundra: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer (1991-1992), a set of four large embroidered wall hangings that greet visitors to INUA. “I did one lesson about the four seasons, it involves the weather. The lesson allows students to reflect on the Inuit seasons, while using the artworks to learn about their own environment and the climate.”
Kayla has moved back to Rankin Inlet where she now works full time as a grade 5/6 teacher. Image courtesy of Kayla Bruce.
Kayla spoke about how an important part of this project for her was creating a lesson plan around the Eskimo Identification Tag System, a federal policy of documenting Inuit by numbers rather than by name, which ran from the 1940s until the 1970s. Kayla says it was an important topic for her to teach because of the lack of knowledge that exists around it. “I connected the lesson plan to feelings and creativity, and allowed space for them to connect that this was a part of our history.”
Since graduating from the University of Winnipeg in April, Kayla has moved back to Rankin Inlet where she now works full time as a grade 5/6 teacher. She spent the early summer working as a student support teacher, where she worked one-on-one with students at her new school. Kayla has even been able to incorporate Inuktitut language into her teaching, which she says allows her to connect with her students in different ways than she had been when she was studying in Winnipeg. “It’s nice to be able to use [Inuktitut] when I can’t think of the words in English.” The first day of classes in early August was an exciting moment as Kayla began her new career teaching youth in Rankin Inlet.
“I connected the lesson plan to feelings and creativity, and allowed space for them to connect that this was a part of our history.”
Kayla Bruce with Glenn Gear’s Iluani/Silami (It's Full of Stars), at INUA, Winnipeg Art Gallery. Image courtesy of Kayla Bruce.
To young Inuit who may be interested in starting a career in the arts, Kayla says it's important to take risks and try new things without placing expectations on themselves. “Going to Winnipeg for school, I had no expectations. I went in with an open mind, and I met some good people and it turned out to be a great experience. It is scary to put yourself out there, but it is worth it. You never know until you try!”
To learn more about Kayla’s involvement with Inuit Futures as an Illiniaqtuk, visit our Ilinniaqtuit page.
If you are interested in becoming one of our Inuit Futures Ilinniaqtuit, please visit our contact page to get in touch.