Inuit - guided visit for secondary school

Inuit means “the people” in Inuktitut, the language spoken by the Canadian Inuit. Inuit communities have lived for hundreds of years in the Far North, above the tree line, adapting their way of life to long, cold winters and short, mild summers. Their art offers us a window into how they live and have lived. The exhibition brings together prints and sculptures organised around themes such as hunting, the world of the sea, shamanism, the home and games. 

A guide introduces students to the world of the Inuit through the eyes of renowned Inuit artists. Some of the prints on display evoke memories of the past. Inuit life today is very different from what it was around 70 years ago, when the Canadian government forced Inuit communities to settle in permanent villages. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, government policies sought to assimilate Inuit communities into Western society. Traditional family ties were disrupted, the Inuit language and cultural practices were suppressed, and connections with the land and animals were weakened. 

Inuit artists respond to this difficult colonial past in meaningful ways, keeping memories alive and helping younger generations reconnect with their cultural traditions. 

Through close observation and discussion, students are encouraged to make connections and build a deeper understanding of Inuit history and culture. By comparing Inuit ways of life with their own, they discover how our natural surroundings shape the way we organise our lives. Finally, they see that Inuit communities and students today share the same world—and that issues such as climate change, modern technology and political decisions can affect us all.