Tusarvik School

About Tusarvik Elementary

We are a K-6 Elementary school located in Naujaat, Nunavut, right on the Arctic Circle. We have over 250 students. Tusarvik was built in 1968. A gym, library and additional classroom space were added in 1998. "Tusarvik” in Inuktitut means “place of listening.” The school, especially the gymnasium, is the social center of town. Naujaat, means "nesting place for seagulls". Nesting grounds are located on cliffs five kilometers north of the community and every June the area is occupied by thousands of seagulls, as well as snow birds, loons, eider ducks, longtail ducks, and jaegers.

The area is known for its abundant Narwhal population. For this reason, Inuit from surrounding communities meet in Naujaat for the annual narwhal hunt. The narwhal is one of the most precious foods in the Arctic. The hunt occurs in mid-summer when the sun shines for almost 24 hours a day.

Naujaat is renowned for its excellent artisans, especially for its Inuit carvers who work in bone, ivory and stone. The past is valued here, as you'll soon see. Artisans create exquisite imagery in stone, intricate jewellery, and beautifully designed clothing that is warm and practical.

Tusarvik is a language reclamation school with 70% of instruction in the K-3 classes being done in Inuktitut and 30% in English, in Grade 4 those ratios switch. Language, culture and identity is a priority in the school. Providers must be aware that English is not the primary language of most students so patience, slower paces and time for comprehension must be allowed.

Basic Phrases:

ublukkut (oo-blue-koot) Good Day

ublatsiaq (oo-blah-ci-awk) - Good morning

qujannamiik (key-ann-a-me) Thank you

kinauvit? (key-now-v) - What's your name?